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16 


FOREST  RESOURCES, 
LIBRARY 


S00420601    D 


This  book  is  due  on  the  date  indicated 
below  and  is  subject  to  an  overdue 
fine  as  posted  at  the  circulation  desk. 


EXCEPTION:  Date  due  will  be 
earlier  if  this  item  is  RECALLED. 


SEP  0  2 

TEB  2  5  200.1 
^JUN  02  200 

MAY  1 1  2004 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 

J.  A.  HOLMES,  STATE  GEOLOGIST, 


BULLETIN    No.   5. 


TIMBER  TREES  AND  FORESTS  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA. 


BY 

GIFFORD  PINCHOT 

AND 

W.  -W.  ASHE. 


WINSTON : 

M.  I.  &  J.  C.  Stewart,  Public  Printers. 

1897. 


« 


^en-t-cif^M 


'f 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL   SURVEY. 

J.  A.  HOLMES,  STATE  GEOLOGIST. 


BULLETIN    No.  6. 


TIMBER  TREES  AND  FORESTS  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA. 


GIFFORD  PINCHOT 


W.  W.  ASHE. 


WINSTON: 
1. 1.  &  J.  C.  Stewart,  Public  Printers. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Illustrations 7 

Board  of  Managers 9 

Letter  of  Transmittal U 

Preface 13 

Key  for  the  Determination  of  Larger  Forest  Trees 17 

Timber  Trees  of  North  Carolina 33 

Magnolia  foetida  ;  magnolia 33 

Magnolia  glauca  ;  white  bay 34 

Magnolia  acuminata;     cucumber  tree 35 

Magnolia  macrophylla  ;  great-leaved  magnolia 36 

Magnolia  tripetala  ;  umbrella  tree 37 

Magnolia  fraseri ;  mountain  magnolia 38 

Liriodendron  tulipifera;     yellow  poplar 39 

Asimina  triloba  ;  papaw 41 

Gordonia  lasianthus  ;  loblolly  bay 42 

Tilia  americana  ;  basswood 43 

Tilia  pubescens  ;     southern  lin 44 

Tilia  heterophylla  ;     lin 45 

Ilex  opaca;  boUy 46 

Cyrilla  racemiflora  ;  cyrilla 47 

Aesculusoctandra  ;  buckeye 47 

Acer  spicatum  ;  mountain  jnaple 48 

Acer  pennsylvaniium  ;  striped  maple. 49 

Acer  barbatum  ;  sugar  maple 50 

Acer  saccharinum  ;  silver  or  white  maple 51 

Acer  rubrnm  ;  le-l  maple 53 

Acer  negundo  ;  boielder 53 

Robinia  pseudacacia  ;  yellow  locubt 54 

Robinia  viccosa;  clammy  locust 55 

Cladrastis  lutea  ;  yellowwood 56 

Gleditschia  triacanthos  ;  honey  locust 56 

Cercis  canadensis  ;  redbud 57 

Prunus  pennsylvanica  ;  wild  red  cherry 58 

Prunus  serotina;  wild  black  cherry 59 

Aiuelanchier  cauadensis  ;  service  tree 60 

Liquidambar  styraciflua  ;  sweet  gum 61 

Cornus  florida  ;  dogwood 63 

Nyssa  sylvatica;  black  gum 63 

Nyssa  aquatica  ;  tupelo  gum 65 


CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Oxydendron  arboreum  ;  sourwood 66 

Kalmia  latifolia  ;  laurel 67 

Rhododendron  maximum  ;  great  laurel 68 

Diospyros  virginiana ;  persimmon 68 

Mohrodendron  carolinum  ;  snowdrop  tree 70 

Fraxinus  americana;  white  ash 70 

Fraxinus  pennsylvanica  ;  red  ash 73 

Fraxinus  pennsylvanica,  var.  lanceolata  ;  green  ash 73 

Fraxinus  caroliniana  ;  water  ash 73 

Persea  borbonia  ;  sweet  or  red  bay 74 

Sassafras  sassafras  ;  sassafras 75 

Ulmus  americana  ;  white  elm 76 

Ulmus  alata  ;  winged  elm 77 

Ulmus  fulva;  slippery  elm 78 

Morus  rubra  ;  red  mulberry 79 

Celtis  occidentalls  ;  haeliberry 80 

Platanus  occidentalis  ;  sycamore 81 

Juglans  cinerea  ;  white  walnut 82 

Juglans  nigra  ;  black  w^alnut 83 

Hicoria  minima  ;  bitternut 84 

Hicoria  aquatica  ;  water  hickory 85 

Hicoria  ovata  ;  shag-bark  hickory 86 

Hicoria  alba;  white  hickory 87 

Hicoria  glabra  ;  pignut 88 

Quercus  alba  ;  white  oak 89 

Quercus  minor  ;  post  oak 91 

Quercus  lyrata  ;  overcup  oak 92 

Quercus  prinus  ;  chestnut  oak 93 

Quercus  michauxii ;  swamp  chestnut  oak 95 

Quercus  virginiana  ;  live  oak 96 

Quercus  rubra;  red  oak , 97 

Quercus  texana  ;  Texas  red  oak 98 

Quercus  coccinea  ;  scarlet  oak 99 

Quercus  velutina  ;  black  oak 101 

Quercus  catesb^ei ;  fork-leaf  black  jack  oak 102 

Quercus  digitata  ;  Spanish  oak 103 

Quercus  marilandica  ;  black-jack  oak 104 

Quercus  nigra;  water  oak 105 

Quercus  laurifolia ;  laurel  oak 106 

Quercus  brevifolia  ;  upland  willow  oak 107 

Quercus  imbricaria;  shingle  oak 107 

Quercus  phellos;  willow  oak 108 

Castanea  dentata ;  chestnut 109 

Fagus  ferruginia ;  beech Ill 

Ostrya  virginica ;  ironwood 112 

Carpinus  caroliniana ;  hornbeam 113 

Betula  lutea  ;  yellow  birch 113 


CONTENTS.  0 

PAGE. 

Betula  nigra  ;  river  birch 114 

Betulalenta;  cherry  or  sweet  birch 115 

Salix  nigra  ;  black  willow 116 

Populus  grandidenta  ;  aspen 117 

Populus  heterophylla ;  cotton  wood 118 

Populus  monilifera;  Carolina  cottonwood 118 

Thuja  occidentalis  :  arbor  vitte 119 

Cupressus  thyoides;  white  cedar 119 

Juniperus  virginiana  ;  red  cedar 121 

Taxodium  distichum  ;  cypress 122 

Pinus  strobus  ;  white  pine 123 

Pinus  tseda;  loblolly  pine 125 

Pinus  rigida;  pitch  pine 126 

Pinus  serotina  ;  pond  pine 127 

Pinus  virginiana;  scrub  pine 128 

Pinus  pungens  ;  Table  Mountain  pine 129 

Pinus  echinata ;  short-leaf  pine 130 

Pinus  palustris  ;  long-leaf  pine 131 

Picea  nigra;  black  spruce 138 

Tsuga  canadensis ;    hemlock 134 

Tsuga  caroliniana  ;  Carolina  hemlock 135 

Abies  fraseri ;  balsam 136 

Sabal  palmetto ;  palmetto 136 

Forests  of  North  Carolina 141 

Forest  divisions 141 

The  coastal  plaiii  region 141 

The  Piedmont  plateau  region 141 

The  mountain  region 142 

Forests  of  the  Coastal  Plain  Region 143 

Maritime  Forests 144 

Soils  of  the  maritime  division 144 

Condition  of  the  forests 145 

Forests  of  the  Pine  Belt 147 

Forest  trees 147 

Distinctive  growth 148 

Physical  characteristics  of  the  pine  belt .' 148 

Changes  in  the  kind  of  forest  growth 149 

Forests  of  the  Pine  Belt  Uplands 149 

Long  LEAF  Pine  Woodland 151 

The  pine  barrens 152 

Soils  of  the  pine  barrens 152 

Conditions  of  the  forests  of  the  pine  barrens 153 

Possibilities  of  the  pine  barrens 155 

Level  pine-woodland ■ 156 


b  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Supply  and  utilization  of  long-leaf  pine 158 

Treatment  required  by  the  long  leaf  pine  forests 15i) 

Loblolly  Pine  Woodland 161 

Condition  of  the  forests 1153 

Merchantable  loblolly  pine  timber 163 

Forest  industries 164 

Forest  protection 164 

Reproduction  of  loblolly  pine  forests 165 

Sylvicultural  treatment  of  loblolly  pine 165 

Transitional  Forests 168 

Forests  of  Lowlands  of  Coastal  Plain 169 

Oak  flats 170 

Merchantable  timber  on  oak  flats 172 

Sylvicultural  treatment 173 

Gum  and  cypi'ess  swamps 173 

Merchantable  timber  of  gum  and  cypress  swamps 174 

4  White  cedar  or  juniper  swamps 175 

Condition  of  unlumbered  swamps 176 

Treatment  of  white  cedar  swamps 178 

The  pond  pine  poeosins 179 

Forests  of  the  Piedmont  Plateau  Region 181 

Forests  of  the  Piedmont  lowlands 183 

Improvement  of  the  forests  of  the  lowlands 185 

Forests  of  the  Piedmont  uplands 186 

Soils  of  the  Piedmont  uplands 187 

General  condition  of  the  forest 187 

Eastern  pine  belt  of  the  Piedmont  plateau 188 

Forests  of  the  eistern  granite  areas 189 

Treatment  required  by  forests  of  eastern  granite  areas 190 

Forests  of  eastern  red  sandstone  belt 191 

Improvements  of  the  forests  of  the  sandstone  belt 193 

Forests  of  the  slate  soils 194 

Deciduous  forests  of  the  Piedmont  plateau 196 

Forests  of  the  compact  red  loams  or  red  clays 196 

Improvement  of  the  forests 198 

Forest  of  the  loose  gray.loams 199 

Condition  of  the  deciduous  forests  of  the  Piedmont  plateau 203 

Western  pine  belt  of  the  Piedmont  plateau 304 

Merchantable  timber  of  western  Piedmont  pine  Vjelt 306 

Improvement  of  forest 207 

Forests  of  Mountain  Region 208 

Forests  of  lower  mountains 209 

Distinctive  growth 210 

Table  mountain  pine  division 210 


ILLUSTRATIONS.  •  < 

PAGE. 

Merchantable  timber  ot  Table  mountain  pine  division 211 

Improvement  of  the  forests 212 

Short-leaf  and  pitch  pine  forests 218 

Condition  of  the  pine  forests 214 

Improvement  of  the  forests 215 

White  pine  forests 215 

Condition  of  the  Avhite  pine  forests 216 

Merchantable  timber  of  white  pine  forests 218 

Improvement  of  the  white  pine  forests 218 

Forests  of  the  higher  mountains 219 

Soils  of  the  higher  mountains 220 

Forest  trees  of  the  higher  mountains 220 

Condition  of  the  forests 221 

Merchantable  timber  of  the  higher  mountains 222 

Forest  industries  of  the  mountain  regions 222 

Forests  of  the  mountain  summits 223 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Plate  I.  Forest  view  looking  towards  Grrandfather  mountain. 
Frontispiece. 

II.  Liriodendron  tulipifera  ;  yellow  poplar 89 

III.  Tilia  heterophylla;  lin 45 

IV.  Acer  barbatum  ;  sugar  maple 50 

V.  Prunus  serotina  ;  group  of  wild  black  cherry  trees 59 

VI.  Fraxiiius  americana;  white  ash 71 

VII.  Quercus  alba;  white  oak 89 

VIII.  Quercus  virginiana;  live  oak 96 

IX.  Quercus   rubra;  red  oak 97 

X.  Quercus  nigra;  water  oak 105 

XI.  Castanea  dentata;  chestnut 109 

XII.  Betula  lenta  ;  cherry  birch 116 

XIII.  Juniperus   virginiana  ;  red  cedar 121 

XIV.  Pinus  strobus  ;  white  pine 124 

XV.  Pinus  tfeda;  loblolly  pine 125 

XVI.  Pinus  serotina;  [jond  pine 127 

XVII.  Pinus  palustris;  long-leaf  pine 131 

XVIII.  Picea  nigra;  black  spruce 138 

XIX.  Tsuga  canadensis;  hemlock 134 

XX.  Sabal  palmetto  ;  palmetto 137 

XXI.  Dredge     cutting    logging     CH,nal   in    eastern   cypress 

swamp 178 

XXII.  Mixed  hardwood  and  pine  forest  of  IMedmont  plateau 

region 192 

XXIII.  Mixed  hardwood  forest  of  mountain  region 221 


8  *  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE. 

Figure  1.  Map  showing  distribution  of  cucumber  tree  and  magnolia...    33 
•2.  Map  showing  distribution  of  white  bay  and  mountain  mag- 
nolia     34 

3.  Map  showing  distribution  of  umbrella  tree  and  great-leaved 

magnolia 37 

4.  Map  showing  economic  distribution  of  yellow  poplar 40 

5.  Map  showing  distribution  of  basswood,  lin,  and  southern  lin  43 
G.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  sugar  maple 50 

7.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  yellow  locust 54 

8.  Map  showing  economic  and  botanical  distribution  of  wild 

black  cherry  and  distribution  of  wild  red  cherry 59 

9.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  sweet  gum 62 

10.  Map  showing  distribution  of  black  gum  and  tupelo 64 

11.  Map  showing  distribution  of  persimmon 69 

12.  Map  shoAving  distribution  of  white  ash  and  water  ash 71 

13.  Map  showing  distribution  of  American  elm 76 

14.  Map  showing  distribution  of  winged  elm 78 

15.  Map  showing  distribution  of  black  walnut  and  white  walnut  83 

16.  Map  showing  distribution  of  shag-bark  hickory  and  water- 
bitternut 86 

17.  Map   showing   relative   abundance    of    white    and    pignut 
hickories 88 

18.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  white  oak 90 

19.  Map  showing  distribution  of  post  oak 92 

20.  Map  showing  distribution  of  overcup  oak 93 

21.  Map   showing   distribution    of    chestnut  oak    and   swamp 

chestnut  oak 95 

22.  Map  showing  distribution  of  red  oak  and  live  oak 97 

23.  Map  showing  distribution  of  turkey  oak  and  Texas  red  oak    99 

24.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  scarlet  oak 100 

25.  Map  showing  distribution  of  black  oak  and  laurel  oak 101 

26.  Map  showing  distribution  of  Spanish  oak 103 

27.  Map  showing  distribution  of  water  oak 105 

28.  Map  showing  distribution  of  shingle  and  willow  oaks 108 

29.  Map  showing  distribution  of  chestnut  and  chinquapin 110 

30.  Map   showing  distribution  of  river  birch,  cherry  birch,  and 

yellow  birch 115 

31.  Map  showing  distribution  of  pitch  pine  and  white  cedar 120 

32.  Map  showing  relative  abundance  of  red  cedar 121 

33.  Map  showing  distribution  of  white  pine  and  cypress 123 

34.  Map  showing  economic  distribution  of  loblolly  pine 125 

35.  Map    showing    distribution    of   pond   pine,    hemlock,  and 

Carolina  hemlock 127 

36.  Map  showing  distribution  of  scrub  pine  and  Table  moun 

tain  pine 128 

37.  Map  showing  economic  distribution  of  short-leaf  pine 130 

38.  Map  showing  economic  distribution  of  long-leaf  pine 132 


BOAED  OF  MANAGERS. 


Governor  D.  L.  Russell,  ex  officio  Chairman Raleigh. 

Charles  McNamee Biltmore. 

J.  Turner  Morehbad Leaksville. 


J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist Chapel  Hill 


LETTER  OE  TRANSMITTAL. 


Chapel  Hill,  N.  C,  June  19th,  1897. 
To  his  Excellency^  Gov.  D.  L.  Russell, 

Chairman  Geological  Board,,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Sir  : — I  beg  to  submit  tor  publication  as  Bulletin  6  of  the  Geo- 
logical Survey  series,  a  report  on  the  timber  trees  of  North  Car- 
olina, by  Mr.  Giiford  Pinchot,  and  a  report  on  the  forests  and 
forest  conditions  in  North  Carolina,  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Ashe.  Mr. 
Pinchot  has  prepared  his  portion  of  this  bulletin  free  of  charge 
for  services,  and  I  regard  his  paper  as  one  of  the  most  valuable 
wiiich    has  been  prepared  for  the  survey. 

There   is    already   a   large  demand   for   copies  of  this  bulletin, 
even  in  advance  of  its  being  published,  and   its   distribution  will 
serve  to  answer  a  number  of  inquiries  from  many  portions  of  the 
country,  concerning  the  timber  supplies  in  North  Carolina. 
With  great  respect,  I  beg  to  remain. 

Yours  obediently, 

J.  A.  Holmes, 
State  Geologist. 


PREFACE. 

The  present  Bulletin  was  planned  as  a  part  of  the  North  Caro- 
lina forest  exhibit  at  Chicago.  It  was  begun  before  the  opening 
of  the  World's  Fair,  but,  for  reasons  which  need  not  be  recited 
her-e,  remained  unfinished.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  continued 
under  stress  of  other  work  as  opportunity  arose,  and  has  reached 
it  present  condition  only  after  long  delays. 

It  is  intended,  first,  to  present  a  succinct  statement  of  certain 
salient  characteristics  of  the  more  important  trees  of  North  Caro- 
lina. The  forest  flora  of  no  other  State  is  more  varied,  nor  in 
many  v^ays  so  interesting  as  this.  Partly  for  this  reason,  and 
partly  for  the  uses  of  this  Bulletin  in  identifying  trees  through- 
out the  State,  a  close  restriction  to  those  species  which  are  of 
present  value  for  lumber  has  not  been  maintained. 

The  second  part  of  the  Bulletin,  a  short  account  of  the  various 
forest  regions  of  the  State,  is  contributed  entirely  by  Mr.  Ashe, 
whose  acquaintance  wuth  the  woodlands  of  North  Carolina  is  so 
much  more  extensive  than  my  own  that  I  have  thought  it  best  not 
to  attempt  to  edit  his  MS.  in  any  way. 

In  all  matters  of  punctuation,  capitalization,  and  nomenclature, 
I  have  preferred  to  follow  the  established  usage  of  the  Geological 
Survey  throughout,  rather  than  depart  from  it  in  a  few  cases 
wliere  my  individual  preference  might  have  been  difterent. 

The  material  contained  in  the  accounts  of  the, various  trees  has 
been  gathered  chiefly  from  various  publications,  assisted  by  such 
personal  observations  as  I  have  been  able  to  make,  or  as  have 
been  contributed  by  diff'erent  observers.  I  have  to  express  my 
indebtedness  in  particular  to  Prof.  Sargent's  magnificent  "Silva 
of  North  America,"  to  Dr.  Curtis'  "Trees  of  North  Carolina," 
and  to  Dr.  Chapman's  "Fbra  of  the  Southern  States."  Other 
authorities  have  been  consulted  in  the  course  of  preparation,  but 
these  are  the  principal  ones. 


14  PREFACE. 

The  silvicultural  notes,  largely  tentative  in  character  as  they 
must  necessarily  be,  are  intended  to  refer  only  to  the  bearing  of 
each  species  in  North  Carolina. 

Besides  Mr.  Ashe,  to  whose  notes  I  am  indebted  for  the  descrip- 
tions of  the  root  systems  and  for  other  material,  and  myself,  many 
others  have  joined  in  the  work,  but  it  would  carry  me  too  far  to 
acknowledge  their  services  in  detail.  I  must  ask  them  to  accept 
this  general  expression  of  my  sincere  appreciation  of  their  assist- 
ance. GiFFORD    PiNCHOT. 

New  York,  Nov.  26,  1896. 


KEY  FOR  THE  DETERMINATION 


LARGER  NORTH  CAROLINA  FOREST  TREES. 

BY 

WILLIAM  WILLARD  ASHE. 


KEY  FOR  THE  DETERMINATION 

OF    THE 

LARGER  NPRTH  CAROLINA  FOREST  TREES. 

By  W.  W.   Ashe. 


The  analytical  key  given  below  for  the  detennination  of  the 
larger  forest  trees  is  based  on  those  characters  whi(di  are  niost 
accessible  and  can  be  obtained  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the 
growing  season.  A  short  explanation  of  some  of  the  terms  used 
is  given,  which  may  be  of  some  service. 

Opposite  leaves  are  two  leaves  placed  opposite  one  another,  one 
on  either  side  of  the  twig.  Alternate  leaves  are  leaves  not  so 
placed  in  pairs  along  the  twig. 

The  leaf  stem  is  the  stalk  on  which  the  leaf  stands  and  by  which 
it  is  fastened  to  the  twig.  A  simple  leaf  is  one  whose  leafstem 
is  attached  directly  to  the  twig;  'a.  compound  leaf,  one  formed  of 
numerous  separate  small  leaves,  or  leaflets,  which  are  attached  at 
the  end  of  a  common  leafstem  or  along  either  side  of  a  com- 
mon leafstem.  The  leaflets  along  the  leafstem  can  be  arranged 
opposite  each  other  or  alternately. 

A  hud  is  placed  on  the  twig  at  the  bottom  of  each  leafstem.  It 
is  generally  a  small  brown  prominence  or  spur  formed  of  over- 
lapping scales.  Those  buds  at  the  end  of  the  twig  are  larger  than 
those  below,  and  the  usual  reference  is  to  the  end  or  terminal 
bud.  Buds  do  not  reach  their  full  size  and  color  until  about  the  , 
middle  of  July,  but  they  can  be  clearly  seen  as  soon  as  the  leaves 
and  twig  are  mature  in  spring.  Most  buds  are  placed  on  the  twig 
just  above  where  the  leafstem  joins  it  ;  some  buds,  however,  are 
concealed  in  a  cup  hollowed  out  of  the  base  of  the  leafstem.  It 
is  important  to  know  where  the  bud  is,  as  compound  leaves  are 

0 


18  KEY    FOR    THE    DETERMINATION    OF    THE 

determined  in  this  way,  tiie  small  leaflets  which  make  them  hav- 
ing no  buds  where  thej  join  the  leafstem,  which  otherwise  might 
be  taken  for  the  twig. 

The  twig  is  the  growth  of  the  season.  Most  trees  have  the  buds 
and  the  leaves,  which  grow  from  the  same  point,  scattered  rather 
regularl}'  along  the  twig,  only  one  or  rarely  two  being  at  the  end 
of  the  twig  ;  the  oaks,  however,  have  from  three  to  five  such  buds 
and  leaves  crowded  at  the  end  of  the  twig,  besides  those  on  the 
stem  below,  and  this  characteristic  grouping  of  the  buds  is  used 
to  separate  these  trees  from  all  others.  Two  of  the  magnolias 
have  their  leaves  and  buds  so  grouped,  but  on  account  of  the 
large  size  of  the  leaves  these  will  not  be  confused  with  the  oaks. 

j  The  figures  in  parenthasis  refer  to  the  page  on  which  a  more 
j       lengthy  description  will  be  found. 


I.     CONIFERS,  TREES  WITH  LIMBS,  CHIEFLY  EVERGREEN  AND 
RESIN-BEARING,  WITH  LEAVES  RARELY  j\  INCH  BROAD. 

(1)    LKAVKS  OVER  ONE   INCH   LONG,  NEEDLE-LIKE,  FROM   2  TO  5  COLLECTED 

IN  A  SHORT  SHEATH.— P^?^e.y. 

(a)  Leaves  5  together;  bark  of  small  limbs  whitish 

or  gray.    (p.  128.) White  Pine. 

(l>)  Leaves  o  together. 

Leaves  10  to  15  inches  long ;  bud  at  end  of 

the  twig  covered  by  many  ragged,  silvery 

bracts,    (p.  131.) Long-leaf  Pine. 

Leaves  G   to  10  inches  long;  bud  small  and 

resinous;  cone   or  burr   cylindrical,  5   to  6 

inches  long.    ( p.  125.) .'. Loblolly  Pine. 

Leaves  4  to  8  inches  long;    small  bud  resi- 
nous ;    cone  top-shaped ;    trees  of    eastern 

swamps,    (p  127.) Pond  or  Savanna  Pine. 

Leaves  3  to 5  inches  long;  cone  top-shaped  ; 

western  trees  on  dry  ridges  or  rarely  in  deep 

swamps;  buds  resinous,    (p.  120.) (Northern)  Pitch  Pine. 

(c)  Leaves  2  together,  rarely  3. 

Leaves  about  4  inches  long  ;  cone  less  than 

2   inches  long;  young  twigs  covered  wuth  a 

whitish  or  pinkish  bloom;  buds  not  resin- 
ous ;  large  and  common  trees,     (p.  130.) Short  leaf  Pine. 

Leaves  about  2  inches  long  ;   cone  2i  inches 

long ;   small   trees   with    curving  branches, 

and  thin  scaly  bark  on  old  trunks,    (p.  128.). .JERSEY  OR  SCRUB  Pine. 

Leaves  about  2  inches  long;  cone  large  with 

stout  hooked  prickles  on  the  ends  of  the 

scales :  a  rare  tree,  occurring  chiefly  along 

the  Blue  Ridge,     (p.  129.) Table-mountain  Pine. 


LARGER    NORTH    CAROLINA    FOREST    TREES. 


(2)  LEAVES  FLATTENED,  RARELY  1    INCH  LONG,  SCATTERED  SINGLY  ALONG 
THE  TWIG  ;    FRUIT  NOT  A  BERRY. 

(a)  Large  and  commoa  trees  of  eastern  swauips ; 
not  evergreen  ;  the  end  of  the  twig  falling 
off  in  the  autumn. 

Leaves  spreading  in  two  rows,  one  on  either 

side  of  the  twig.    (p.  122.) _ Cypress. 

Leaves,  fi(,ppres?ed  to  the  twig,  in  many  rows 
on  all   sides  of    it ;   smaller  tree    than    the 

above,  growing  in  pine  barren  ponds Pond  Cypress'. 

(&)  Trees  of  the  mountains  ;  evergreen. 

Fruit  a  small  burr  or   cone,  about  1  inch 
long  or  less. 

Leaves  white  beneath,  in  two  rows,  one 

on    either    side   of    the    twig;     growing 

along  mountain  streams,     (p.  134.) Hemlock. 

Leaves  scattered  on  all  sides  of  the  twig  ; 

scales  of  the  cone  larger  than  the  last 

and  spreading  ;  rare  trees,  chiefly  along 

the  Blue  Ridge;    (p.  135.) Carolina  Hemlock. 

Fruit  a  larger,  cylindrical  cone,  2  to  4  inches 
long  ;  trees  of  high  mountains. 

Leaves  green,  nearly  round,  scattered  on 

all  sides  of  the  twig.     (p.  133.) Black  Spruce. 

Leaves  in  one  row  on  either  side  of  the 

twig,  white  beneath  ;  trees  with  white, 

smooth    bark,    found    on     the    highest 

mountains,     (p.  136  ) Carolina  Fir  or  Balsam. 

(3)  LEAVES   SHORT,    SCALE-LIKE,  LESS   THAN   i^-INCH   LONG;   TWIGS  OF   THE 

YEAR  GREEN.— Cedar*. 

Spray,  that  is  a  bunch  of  twigs,  flattened  ;  fruit  a  (Juniper. 

small  cone  ;  trees  of  eastern  swamps,     (p.  119.) White  Cedar  or 

Twigs  round:  fruit  a  small,  blue  berry;  (often 
bearing  lars:e,  hard,  brown  excrescences  on 
twigs);  dry  soil.    (p.  121.) Red  Cedar. 

Twigs,  as  well  as  the  spray  (bunch  of  twigs)  flat- 
tened ;  fruit  a  small  cone  ;  rocky  slopes  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  also  extensively  cultivated,     (p.  119.) Arborvitae. 


IT.    BROAD-LEAF  TREES  ;    TREES  WITH  LIMBS  ;    LEAVES  FROM 

i  OF  AN  INCH  TO  10  INCHES  BROAD,  CHIEFLY  DECIDUOUS. 
(1)  leaves  compound  and  placed  alternately  along  the  twig. 

(a)  Leaflets  placed  alternately  along  the  common 
leafstem,   7  to  11  in  number;  flowers  white; 

fruit  a  dry  pod  ;  S.  W.  mountains  ;  rare.     (p.  56) Yellowwood. 

(b)  Stout  thorns  at  the  base  of  each  leafstem  and 
each  leaflet ;  leaflets  dotted  with  translucent 
dots ;    bark  warty    and   thorny ;    sandy    sea 

coast ". Prickly  Ash-'. 

iTaxodium  disticUuin    imbriciria  (Xuttall)  AsUe,  Haiiflbojk  of  North  Carolina,  p.  43 
(189(i). 

2Xanthoxylum  carolinlanum.  Lam. 


20  KEY    FOR    THE    DETEKMIN ATION    OF    THE 


(c)  Twigs  angled,  frequently  bearing  tAvo  flat- 
tened thorns  at  the  base  of  each  leafstem  ; 
leaflets  not  toothed,  opposite  on  the  leafstem, 
over  11    in   number ;    liowers  white  ;   fruit   a 

dry  pod  ;  bark  furrowed,  not  thorny,     (p.  54.) Yellow  Locust. 

{d)  Twigs  round,  stout  ;  frequently  compound 
thorns  scattered  over  limbs  and  trunk ; 
leaves,  frequently  twice  compound,  with 
rather   small,  toothed  leaflets  ;  fruit  a   long, 

dark  brown,  pulpy,  many-seeded  pod.     (p.  56.) Honey  Locust. 

(e)  Twigs  sticky  or  clammy;  fruit  a  dry  pod; 
Macon  county,  also  cultivated  ;  a  shrub  or  in 

cultivation  a  small  tree.     (p.  55.) Clammy  Locust. 

(/)  Twigs  smooth,  bearing  prominent  brown 
buds  ;  leaflets  sharply  toothed,  smooth  ; 
flowers  white,  small,  in  large  clusters  ;  fruit 
small,  red  and  berry-like  ;  bruised  bark  on 
twigs  bitter  and  scented   like   cherry   bark ; 

highest  mountains Mountain  Ash^. 

ig)  Twigs  not  thorny  or  sticky  ;  usually  from  2  to 
4  buds  above  eacli  leaf-scar  ;  sharply  toothed 
leaflets  opposite  on  leafstem,  over  3  inches 
long,  5  to  13  in  number  ;  fruit  a  nut,  with  a 
husk  dividing  in  4  parts. — Hickories. 

Leaves  and  leafstems  smooth,  not  hairy; 
leaflet  6  to  7  :  buds  scaly. 

Leaflets  5,  smooth  ;  no  resinous  particles 

on  lower  surface  ;  nut  not  angled,  wath 

a  thick  shell  and  thin  husk,  often  pear- 
shaped  ;  bark  not  scaly,     (p.  88.) PiGNUT. 

Leaflets  very  large,  5  or  7,  smooth,  but 

thickly   dotted  beneath  with   resinous 

I^articles;    twigs,  s-mootli,  shining,  i^ur 

pie-brown ;     nut    angled,    whitish     or 

mealy,  rather  thin  shelled  ;    the  husk 

greenish-brown,  rougliened  with   min- 
ute prominencies,  often  splitting  to  the 

base;  large  trees  with  shaggy  or  loose  (Hickory ^ 

bark  ;  common,     (p.  88.) Red  heart  or  Smallnut 

Leaflets  5.  smooth  ;    nut  white,  small, 

sharply  angled,  with  thin,  white  shell- 

and    thick    husk,   the   fruit   globular; 

bark  very  shaggy ;  trees  of  dry  or  rocky  (Hickory^. 

ridges Small  or  Carolina  Shagbark 

Leaflets  5  to  11,  downy  or  hairy  beneath  ; 
buds  scaly. 

Leaflets   5   or  7,  soft-velvety  beneath  ; 

nut   with  thick  husk  and  thin,  white  (Hickory. 

shell;  trees  with  shaggy  bark.     (p.  86.)....Shag  OR  Scaly-bark 

Leaflets  5   to   9,    soft  downy   beneath  ; 

twigs  and  buds  very  stout ;  nut  brown, 

oblong,     thick-shelled ;      husk    thick  ; 

large  trees  of  low  grounds,  with  shaggy 

bark;  infrequent Large  Shagbark  Hickory*. 

iPyrus  aniericana,  (Marshall)  De  Candolle. 
2Hlcoria  odorata,  (Marshall)  Sarjjent. 

sRicoria  carollnfe-septeutrionalis,  Ashe.  Notes  on  the  Hickories,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 
(4896.) 

•iHicoria  laciniosa,  (Michaux  flls)  Sargent. 


LARGER    NORTH    CAROLINA    FOREST    TREES.  21 


Leaflets  7  to  11,    rough-hairy   beneath  ; 

nut    thick-shehed,     with    thick    husk; 

bark  of  tree  rough  but  not  shaggy,     (p.  87.) White  Hickory. 

Leaflets    scurfy    beneatli     with    silvery 

particles  ;   leafsteru  and   midribs  hairy  ; 

nuts    thick-shelled,    the    husk    usually 

adhering  to  it ;  bark  very  rough  ;  small 

trees  on  sandy  soil ;  throughout  except 

high  mountains Sand  HiCKORyi. 

Leaflets  7  or  more,  and  leafstem,  often 
smooth;  nuts  thin-shelled  and  bitter  ;  husk 
thin  and  adhering  to  the  nut ;  end  buds, 
long,  yellow,  without  scales  (naked). 

Leaflets  7  to  11,  soft-velvety  or  smooth- 

ish  beneath  ;  nut  large,  very  thin-shelled 

and  bitter;  husk  thin.     (p.  84.) Bitternut  Hickory. 

Leaflets  9  to  13,  smooth  ;  nut  small,  very 

thin-shelled  and  bitter;  confined  to  the 

lower  Cape  Fear  section,  (p.  85.)  Water  (bitternut)  Hickory. 

(70  Leaflets  smaller,  over  11  in  number;  fruit  a 
nut  with  a  husk  or  rind  which  does  not  split 
at  all  on  the  mature  nut ;  pith  brown,  cham- 
bered.—  Walnuts. 

Leaflets  soft-velvety  ;  fruit  nearly  round,  (p.  83.)  Black  Walnut. 
Leaflets  clammy  or  sticky  ;  fruit  oblong,  (p.  84.)  White  Walnut. 

(2)  LEAVES   COMPOUND    AND   PLACED    OPPOSITE    ON   THE   TWIG. 

(a)  Leaflets  5  or  7,  spreading  from  the  same  point 
at  the  end  of  the  leaf-stem  ;  fruit  3  or  3  brown 
nuts  in  a  yellow  or  brownish  husk.     (p.  47.) Buckeye. 

{b)  Twigs  and  buds  green  and  shining;  leaflets  3 

or  5,  coarsely  toothed  ;  fruit  Avith  3  wings,     (p.  53.) Boxelder. 

{(:)  Twigs  stout  and  brown ;  buds  brown  and 
scurify  ;  fruit  with  a  single  wing. — Ashes. 

(1)  The  very  broad  wing  entirely  surround- 
ing the  seed  ;  leaflets  5  to  9,  green  both 

sides;  eastern,     (p.  73.) Water  Ash 

(3)  Fruit  narrowly  winged  at  one  end  only  ; 
leaflets  7  to  9. 

Leaves     whitened    beneath  ;     twigs 

either  smooth  or  velvety,     (p.  70.) White  Ash. 

Twigs,  buds  and  green  lower  surface 
of    leaves    velvety ;    fruit   narrowly 

winged,    (p.  72.) Red  Ash. 

Twigs    and    leaves    smooth ;  leaves 

bright  green  beneath,  sharply  toothed,    (p.  73.).  Green  Ash. 

(3)  leaves  simple  and  placed  opposite  ON  the  twig. 

(a)  Leaves  entire,  thin,  oblong,  large,  over  3  inches 
long,  downy  beneath  ;  flowers,  slender,  droop- 
ing, white;  fruit  plum-like Fringe  Tree-. 

[h)  Leaves  evergreen,  thick,  smooth,  pointed,  3  to 
5  inches  long ;  fruit  large,  1-seeded ;  rich 
hummocks  along  the  coast ^ /. Dkvilwood  or  Olive*. 

'Hicorla  villosa  (Sarg.)  Ashe. 

2Cliionauthus  virginica,  Liniiaeus. 

^Osmauthus  americanus,  (LiniiEeus)  Benthara  &  Hooker. 


22  KEY     FOK     THE    DETERMINATION    OF    THE 


(c)  Leaves  toothed,  oblong,  small,  2  inches  long: 
buds  small  and  acute,  or  large,  round,  and 
flattened  from  the  top  :  flowers  seeming  soli- 
tary, large  and  white  ;  fruit  a  cluster  of  red 

berries;  twigs  purple  or  green,     (p.  63.) Dogwood. 

(d)  Leaves  oblong,  1*  to  3  inches  long,  toothed 
or  entire-margined;  buds,  long-stalked,  rusty- 
scurfy  ;  flowers  white,  small,  in  flat  topped 
clusters;  fruit  black  or  bluish, containing  a 
seed    gi'ooved     on    the    side ;    small    trees  or 

shrubs several  kinds  of Black  Haw^s  '. 

(e)  Leaves  broader  and  short,  3  to  5  lobed ;  fruit 

with   wings. — Maples.     (The    three    first    fre- 
quently grown  as  shade  trees.) 

Buds  red,  blunt ;  leaves  white  beneath, 

generally   with  3  shallow  lobes  ;  very 

common;  wings  of  fruit  f  inch  long.     (p.  52.) Red  Maple. 

Buds  red,  blunt ;  leaves  white  beneath 

with    3    to    5    lobes;    wings    of    fruit 

more  than  1  inch  long;  cultivated,     (p.  5L) White  Maple. 

Buds  brown,  acute  ;  leaves  over  2  inches 

wide,  green  or  white  beneath  with  3 

lobes,  each  lobe  3-notched  ;  large  trees 

with  rough,  hard,  shaggy  bark  ;  fruit 

U  inch  in  length,    (p.  50.) Sugar  Maple. 

Leaves  as  in  the  sugar  maple,  but  only 

half  the  size  ;  fruit  less  than  one  inch 

long ;  small   trees    with   smooth   gray 

bark,     branching    near    the    ground; 

rocky    river    banks    in    the    counties 

drained  by  the  Yadkin  and  Catawba 

rivers " White-bark  Maples 

Small    trees   of  the  liigh   luountains, 

above  3,000  feet,  with  striped  branches, 

green  twigs  and  large,  smooth,  3-lobed 

leaves  ;  long,  stalked,  purplish  buds.     (p.  49.).-Striped  Maple. 

Small  trees  of  the  highest  mountains, 

over4.000  feet,  with  purplish  twigs  and 

3-lobed  leaves,  velvety  beneath,     (p.  48.) Mountain  Maple. 

(4)    LEAVES   SIMPLE     AND    ALTERNATE    OR    SCATTERED    ALONG    THE    TWIG. 

(a)  Leaves  mostly  rather  large,  3  or  more  inches 
long,  nearly  as  broad  as  long,  moi-e  or  less 
heart-shaped. 

(1)  Small   trees  ;   leaves  smooth  and  with 

entire   edges;  fruit  a  pod;  flowers  in 

early  spring,  bright  red.     (p.  57.) Rbdbud. 

(2)  Larger   trees,    with  leaves   triangular, 

smoothisli,  finely  toothed  on  the  mar- 
gins ;  buds  resinous  when  crushed. — 
Cotto7iwoods. 

Trees  of  eastern  swamps ;  leaves 

1  Species  ot  VilDurnum. 

2  Acer  leucoderme,  Small.  Bui.  Tor.  Bot.  CI.,  xxli,  p.  367. 


LARGER    NORTH    CAROLINA    FOREST    TREES.     »  23 


finely  toothed;  leafstemflat ;  twigs 

angled,    (p.  118.) Cottonwood. 

Trees  of  lowgrounds,  eastern  and 
middle      sections ;     leaves      finely 

toothed  ;  leafstem  round.  (p.ll8.)-CAROLiNA  Cottonwood. 
Trees  on  dry  slopes  of    the   Blue 
Ridge  ;  leaves,  about  2  inches  long, 
coarsely    toothed;     leafstem    flat- 
tened,   (p.  117.) Aspen. 

(3)  Mostly  trees  on  the  mountains  or  cool 
banks;  flowers  white,  in  early  summer; 
fruit  a  small,  dry  berry  ;  leaves  sharply 
toothed  ;  twigs  with  large  buds  and 
inodorous  bark. — Lins  or  Lindens. 

Leaves  thin  and  nearly  smooth, 
green     both    sides ;  found    chiefly 

around  high  mountains,     (p.  42.) Basswood. 

Leaves  thickish  and  white  beneath,     (p.  45.) LiN. 

Leaves  thickish,  velvety  beneath  ; 
found  chiefly  on  cool  hummocks 
near  the  coast,     (p.  44.) Southern  Lin. 

(4)  Small  trees  of  rich  woodland  ;  bark  ill- 

scented  when  broken  ;  fruit,  ripening 
in  summer,  a  black,  edible  berry; 
often  cultivated,     (p.  79.) Mulberry. 

{b)  Leaves  about  as  broad  as  long,  2  to  5  inches 
long,  not  heart  shaped  in  outline;  buds  scat- 
tered ;  large  and  common  trees  except  last. 

Leaves  large,  with  a  broad  notch  at  the 

top,  lobed  on  the  sides  ;  large  buds  flat-  (Yellow  Poplar. 

tened;  in  rich  woods  and  along  streams,     (p.  39.). .Tulip-tree  or 

Leaves  small,  deeply  5-lobed  :  crushed 

buds  resinous  scented  ;  twigs  often  with 

corky  wings  ;  fruit  a  rough  ball,  about 
.     1  inch  in  diameter  hanging  by  a  stem  2 

to  3  inches  long.     (p.  61.) Sweet  Gum. 

Leaves  3  to  5-lobed,  white  beneath  with 

soft   wool ;  leafstem  covering  the  bud  ; 

trunk    of    tr^e    smooth     and    whiti^ih 

above;     fruit    a    rather    smooth    ball, 

about  1  inch  in  diameter,  hanging  by  a 

slender  stem  ;  mostly  along  streams,     (p.  81.) Sycamore. 

Leaves  with  sharp  spines  along  their 

edges,    thick,    evergreen,    dark    green ; 

trees  w^th  smooth  gray  bark.     (p.  46.) Holly. 

(c)  Leaves  large,  4  to  30  inches  long,  oblong  in 
outline,  not  toothed  or  lobed;  flowers  large 
and  white. — Magnolias. 

Leaves  thick,  evergreen,  over  6  inches 

long,  brown-hairy  beneath  ;  Brunswick  (Magnolia. 

county,  and  frequently  cultivated,     (p.  33.) Evergreen 

Leaves   smaller,   white  beneath ;   bark 

white  and  smooth  ;  buds  silky  ;  eastern 

swamps White  Bay. 

Leaves  4   to    6    inches    long,    greenish 

beneath  ;    bark  furrowed  ;   buds  siiky- 

hairv  ;  mountains Cucumber  Tree. 


24  .     KEY    FOB    THE    DETERMINATION    OF    THE 


Leaves  large,  10  to  30  inches  long ;  buds 

silky;  rare;  western,     (p.  36.) Great-leavbd  Magnolia. 

Leaves  10  to  15  inches  long,  with  a  deep 
notch  at  the  bottom,  often  collected  at 
the  end  of  the  twig  ;  buds  not  hairy  ; 

high  mountains,    (p.  38.) Wahoo  or  Mountain  Magnolia. 

Leaves  10  to  20  inches  long,  pointed  at 
each  end,  collected  at  the  ends  of  the 
twigs;  along  streams,     (p.  37.) Umbrella  Tree. 

{d)  Leaves  longer  than  broad.  2  to  8  inches  long  ; 
twigs  mostly  brown,  with  from  2  to  5  buds 
crowded  at  the  top,  other  buds  scattered 
below ;  fruit  an  acorn,  i.  e.  a  nut  with  the 
base  enclosed  in  a  scaly  cup. — Oaks. 

(1)  Leaves  not  at  all  lobed  or  toothed,  except 
on  vierorous  shoots,  wedge-shaped  or  tri- 
angular or  long  and  narrow  in  outline ; 
leafstems  short.— TFa/;er  Oaks  and  Willow 
Oaks. 

"1)  Leaves  green  on  both  sides. 

Leaves  4  to  6  inches  long,  triangular 
in  outline,  thick;  buds  large;  twigs 
thick  ;     acorn     large,    ^    inch     wide ; 

small  trees;  bark  rough,  black,     (p.  103.) Black-jack  Oak. 

Leaves  narrowly  triangular,  2  to  3 
inches  long ;  twigs  slender ;  buds 
small    and    blunt ;     nut   small ;    trees 

with  smoothish  gray  bark  ;  eastern,     (p.  105.) Water  Oak. 

Leaves  very  narrow,  pointed ;  twigs 
slender ;  in  the  middle  and  eastern 
parts    of    the    State,    usually   in    wet 

places,    (p.  108) Willow  Oak. 

Leaves  paler  beneath  and  downy ; 
banks    of    streams     along    the    Blue 

Ridge  and  to  the  westward,    (p.  107) Shingle  Oak. 

*2)  Leaves  whitened  beneath,  2  to  5  inches 
long ;  extreme  east. 

Leaves    very    narrow ;     acorn    small, 

globose,  whitened  ;  small  trees  on  dry  (Willow  Oak. 

sandy  soil.    (p.  107.) Barren  or  Upland 

Leaves  broader,  evei-green;  large  trees, 

on  the  coast,  Avith  a  long  acorn,     (p.  96.) Live  Oak. 

(2)  Leaves  more  or  less  lobed,  the  divisions 

tipped    with    a    bristle.— iied    Oaks    and 
Slack  Oaks. 
*1)  Leaves  with  a  leafstem   less  than  1  inch 
long. 

Leaves  broad,  3-lobed  at  the  top.    (p.  103.) Black-jack  Oak. 

Leaves  narrow,  ^  to  1  inch  broad,  with 

shallow  lobes;  on  the  sea  coast,     (p.  106.) Laurel  Oak. 

Leaves    about   2    inches    wide    with    3 

lobes   at   the   top   or  shallow   lobes    on 

the  sides  ;  mountains Lea's  Oak^. 

Leaves     green     and     smooth   on     both 

sides    with    many    long,    often    curved 

iQuercus  leaua,  Nuttall. 


LARGER    NORTH    CAROLINA    FOREST    TREES.  25 


lobes ;    acorn  large ;    cup    with    coarse, 

spreading    scales ;     small    trees      with    (jack  OR  Sand  Oak. 

rough,  gray  bark;  on  pine  barrens,  (p.  102.)--Fork-leap  Black- 

^3)  Leaves  with    a   long    and  slender   leaf- 
stem,  1  to  3  inches  long,  green  beneath. 
Leaves    over  twice  as    long    as    broad, 

the  lobes  acute;  rare  ;  middle  section Bartram'S  Oak^. 

Leaves  broader,  generally  not  twice  as 
long  as  broad  with  many  lobes  on 
each  side  ;  large  trees. 

'i)  With  deep  and  rounded  hollows  be- 
tween the  lobes  of  the  leaves  ;  large 
trees. 

Light  gray  bark  on  limbs  ;  nut  half 

covered    by    the    cup ;    common    on 

dry,    stiff    or  gravelly   soils ;    twigs 

brownish,    (p.  99.).. Scarlet  Oak. 

With  dark  gray  bark   on  branches  ; 

only  base  of    nut  covered    by  the 

cup ;     rare ;    along    streams   of    the 

middle  counties  ;  twigs  steel-gray.  (p.  98.). .Texas  Red  Oak. 

'i)  With   shallower,     acute    hollows 
between  the  lobes  of  the  leaf. 

Leaves  downy  beneath  ;  cup  cover- 
ing   half    of    the   large    nut  ;    bark 

rough  and  black,     (p.  101.) Black  Oak. 

Leaves  smooth  beneath  ;    cup  very 
shallow ;     bark    striped,  dark,    and 

light  gray  ;  western,    (p.  97.) (Northern)  Red  Oak. 

*3)    Leaves     whitened    beneath ;     leafstem 

slender ;  nut  small,  globular,     (p.  103.) Spanish  Oak. 

(3)  Leaves  more  or  less  lobed  or  toothed, 
the  divisions  rounded  and  not  bristle- 
tipped  ;  leafstems  less  than  1  inch  long  ; 
bark  gray,  furrowed  or  shaggy.— W^/itte 
Oaks  and  Chestnut  Oaks. 

Leaves  deeply  5  to  9-lobed ;  nut 
nearly  covered  by  the  cup  ;  in  the 

eastern  swamps,     (p.  92.) Overcup  Oak. 

Leaves  deeply  5  to  7-lobed ;  cup 
one-half  the  length  of  the  acorn  ; 

small  trees,  common  on  dry  soil.     (p.  91) Post  Oak. 

Leaves  7  to  9-lobed ;  cup  of  acorn 
shallow ;    large    trees  ;    light    gray 

bark;  common,     (p.  89.) White  Oak. 

Leaves  thick  with  many,  rounded, 
shallow  lobes ;  bark  deeply  fur- 
rowed ;    dry   soil ;    western ;    acorn 

very  large,    (p.  93.) RocK  Chestnut  Oak. 

Leaves  thin,  velvety  beneath,  with 
many  rounded,  shallow  lobes  ;  bark 
shaggy ;    swamps  and   river  banks 

eastward,    (p.  95.) Swamp  Chestnut  Oak. 

<e)  Leaves    more    than    3     inches    long,    sharply 
toothed  on   the   sides    and   with  prominent, 

iQuercus  heteropliylla,  Michaux. 


26  KEY    FOR    THE    DETERMINATION    OF    THE 


straight  veins  ;  buds  scattered  along  the  twig, 
as  are  the  leaves. 

(1)  Buds  oblique  to  the  axis  of  the  twig; 
fruit  edible,  brown  nuts  enclosed  in 

a  prickly  burr. 

Leaves  over  6  inches  long,  green  both 

sides,    (p.  109.) Chestnut. 

Leaves    about  4    inches    long,   white- 

doAvny  beneath Chinquapin^. 

(2)  End    bud    long    and     slender,     silky, 

brown  ;    twigs   unpleasant  scented  ; 
leaves   about  10  inches   long ;    fruit 

when  ripe  yellow  and  pulpy,     (p.  41.) Papaw. 

(/)  Leaves  about  4  inches  long,  veins  not 
straight  and  prominent,  evergreen,  thick, 
smooth,  dark  green,  irregularly  toothed, 
sharply  pointed  ;  flowers  large,  white  ;  fruit 
a  woody  capsule ;  small  tree  of  eastern 
swamps  with  a  straight  trunk,  not  forking 

and  narrow,  conical. top.     (p.  42.) Loblolly  Bay. 

ig)  Leaves  generally  less  than  3  inches  long  (with 
exceptions  under  {J^  1  and  2),  and  scattered 
along  the  twig  as  are  the  buds. 

(1)   LEAVES   NOT    TOOTHED    ON   THE   MARGIN,    2   TO   5   INCHES   LONG. 

Leaves  and  twigs  aromatic  ;  fruit  a  deep 
blue  berry  on  a  red  stalk. 

Leaves  evergreen,  thick,  dark  green, 
hairy  beneath,   as   is  the  brownish 

twig;  eastern  swamps,     (p.  94.) Red  Bay  or  Sweet  Bay^. 

Leaves  as  in  the  above,  but  smooth 
beneath,  as  are  the  twigs  ;  sandy 
sea  coast Smooth  Red  Bay. 

Leaves    often    2    or   8-lobed  ;    bark 

aromatic ;    fields    and   fence    rows ; 

twigs  green Sassafras. 

Leaves   and   twigs   not   aromatic ;    fruit 
various. 

Leaves  thickish,  smooth,  evergreen, 

narrowed  at  the  base;    fruit  many 

small  capsules  ;  small  trees  or  shrubs 

with    smooth,   thin,    brown    bark  ; 

eastern  swamps,    (p.  47.) Cyrilla, 

Leaves  2  to  4  inches  long  ;  bark  not 

aromatic ;  fruit  a  small  blue  berry  ; 

common  throughout  the  State,     (p.  63.) Black  GrUM. 

Leaves  4  to  6    inches    long ;   rarely 

coarsely     toothed  ;     fruit    a     blue 

berry   i  inch    long;    deep    eastern 

swamps,    (p.  65.) Tupelo  Gum. 

Leaves   about  2  inches  long,  thick, 

evergreen,  pointed  ;  flowers  white  ; 

fruit  a  black     one-seeded    cherry  ; 

twigs  bitter;    Smith's  Island Mock  Orange ^ 

iCastanea  pumila,  Ltnnaeus. 

aPersed  borbonia  pubescens  (Pursh)  nom.  nov. :  P.  piibescens,  Sargent,  Sylva,  vii,  p.  7 
(189.5). 
aPrunus  caroliniana,  (Miller)  Alton. 


LARGER  NORTH  CAROLINA  FOREST  TREES.  27 


Fruit  when  ripe  roundish,  yellow, 
pulpy  and  edible  ;  astringent  when 
green,  the  4-lobed  calyx  persistent 
at  its  batie  ;  seed  several,  flat ;  fields,     (p.  68.) Persimmon. 

(3)    LEAVES   LOBKD,    OR   TOOTHED    ON   THE    MARGIN. 

Fruit  pulpy  or  fleshy,  as  in  apple  or  cherry. 

Leaves  often  lobed  ;  twigs  armed  with 
stout  thorns ;  fruit  a  small  sour  apple 
one  inch  in  diameter,  yellow  when 
ripe;  flowers  pink,  sweet-scented. 
2  kinds  of Crab  Applet. 

Leaves  variously  lobed  or  toothed, 
twigs  often  armed  witli  long  slender 
thorns ;  buds  very  small  ;  flowers 
white,  about  i  inch  in  diameter  in 
large,  flat-topped  clusters,  in  spring ; 
fruit,  berry-like,  orange  or  red,  in  clus- 
ters ;  small  trees  with  bark  of  trunk 
scaly  or  pealing  off  in  thin  sheets  or 

scaly several  kinds  of Red  (Haw)  Thorns 

Leaves  silky-hairy  beneath  ;  the  edible 
red  fruit  small  and   berry-like  ;   bark 

smooth  and  white,    (p.  60.) Service  Tree. 

Bark  of  trees  bitter  to  taste  ;  leaves 
smooth,  finely  and  sharply  toothed  ; 
fruit  one -seeded. 

Fruit  a  black  cherry;  flowers  in  a 

di'ooping  raceme  at  the  end  of  the 

twig;  frequent,    (p.  59.) Wild  Black  Cherry. 

Fruit  a  red  cherry  ;  flowers  in  slen- 
der,   long  stemmed    clusters    along 

the  sides  of  the  twig ;  occurs  only  on 

highest  mountains.'^    (p.  58.) Wild  Red  Cherry. 

Flowers   in    long-stemmed    clusters 

along  the  sides  of  twig  ;  fruit  red  or 

yellow  when  ripe,  about  i  inch  long  ; 

seed  flattened  ;  small  trees,  some- 
times with  thorny  branches  ;  fields, 

waste  places  or  along  streams 

2  kinds  of Wild  Plum^. 

Bark  of  tree  often  with  corky  out- 
growths ;  fruit  a  small  1-seeded  sweet 
berry;  leaves  thin  and  nearly  smooth, 
tapering  to  a  sharp  point,  unequal 
sided;  chiefly  along  streams,     (p.  80.) Hackberry. 

Fruit  various,  either  a  nut  or  dry. 

A.  Leaves  over  three  times  as  long  as  broad. 

Leaves  green  beneath  and  not  hairy,  flnely 
toothed,  long  and  narrow,  i  to  i  inch 
broad ;  twigs  brittle,  yellow  or  red  ;  com- 
mon along  streams  and  wet  places,  except 
in  the  coastal  plain  where  it  is  largely 
replaced  by  the  next.     (p.  116.) Black  Willow. 

iPyrus  coronaria.  Linwjeus  and  C.  angustifolia,  Alton. 

2Species  of  Crataegus. 

sPrunus  araericana,  Mirshall  and  P.  angusritolia,  Mai-shalL 


KEY    FOR    THE    DETERMINATION    OF    THE 


Like  the  above,   but  the    larger    leaves, 

though  smooth,  whitened  beneath;  eastern Ward  AVillow^ 

Leaves  whitened  beneath  with  a  fine 
down,  at  least  when  young  ;  later  smooth 
but  white  ;  twigs  mostly  red  and  purple  ; 
small  slender  trees,  along  streams,  chiefly 

western  and  central '. Glaucous  Willow-. 

Twigs  w^ith  no  bud  at  the  end,  tipped  by 
a  hard  point  or  white  flowers  or  fruit ; 
leaves  3  to  4  inches  long,  finely  toothed, 
smooth,  acid  when  chewed,     (p.  66.) SOURAVOOD. 

A.  Leaves  less  than  three  times  as  long  as  broad. 

Terminal  bud  over  i  inch  long  ;  fruit  a 
3-angled  nut,  bark  of  trunk  smooth,  light 

gray;  leaves  straight-veined,     (p.  111.) Beech. 

Small  trees  with  smooth,  light  gray  bark, 
fluted  trunk,  beech-like  leaves  and  hop- 
like  clusters   of   fruit ;    bud   short ;    very 

common  along  streams,     (p.  113.) ' Hornbeam. 

Leaves  3  to  4  inches  long,  sharp-pointed, 
downy  beneath,  as  is  the  leafstem  ;  flow- 
ers, white,  bell-shaped,  in  drooping  clus- 
ters ;  fruit  about  +  inch  long,  3-angled, 
the  angles  winged  ;  usually  small  trees 
with  striped  green  and  brown  branches  ; 
along    streams   and   cool    hollows   in   the 

mountains,     (p.  70.).. Snow^drop-tree. 

Bark  of  small  limbs  peeling  off  in  thin 
papery  layers ;  flowers  in  catkins  in 
spring  ;  fruit  cylindrical  in  shape,  1  inch 
long,  covered  with  green  bracts,  each 
with  a  seed  at  its  base  within. — Birches. 
Layers  of  bark  red  or  pinkish  ;  leaves 

pale  beneath  ;  common  along  streams,     (p.  114.). ...River  Birch. 
Layers  of  bark  silvery  white;  trees  of 
highest  mountains ;    leaves    green   be- 
neath,   (p.  113.) Yellow  Birch. 

Bark  of  twig  having  the  taste  of  winter- 
green  (or  peppermint)  when  chewed ; 
flowers  and   fruit   of  the  above ;  trees  of 

cool  mountains,     (p.  115.) Sweet  or  Cherry  Birch. 

The  remaining  native  forest  trees  all  have 
have  small  leaves,  from  1  to  2  inches  long 
long,  green  both  sides  and  finely  and 
sharply  toothed.  They  are  either  elms  or 
elm-like  in  the  appearance  of  their  foli- 
age, and  it  is  difficult  to  give  accessible 
leaf-characters  for  their  identification. 

Twigs   yellowish    or    light    brown  ; 

buds  minute,  sometimes  clustered  ; 

fruit  a  small  scaly  nut ;  bark  smooth, 

dark   gray  ;    confined   to  the  lower 

Cape  Fear  section Planer  Tree'. 

Fruit   in    hop-like    clusters ;    small 

iSalix  lougipes  wardil  (Bebb)  nom.  nov. ;  S.  nij,'ra  vvardi,  IJebb,  Bui.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  No. 
xxii,  p.  114. 
2Salix  discolor,  Muehlenburg. 
sPlanera  aquatica,  Ginel. 


LARGER    NORTH    CAROLINA    FOREST    TREES 


29' 


trees,    with    shaggy,    brown     bark,      (^beam  or  Ironwood. 

growing  on  rich  hillsides;  western,     (p.  112.) HoP-HORN- 

Remaining  large  trees  ;  fruit  a 
winged  seed  falling  in  spring 
before  the  leaves  appear ;  exten- 
sively cultivated  for  shade  trees. 
— Elms. 

Twigs  very  hairy;  the  leaves  broadly 
oval,  rough  and  hairy  ;  twigs  gummy 

when  chewed  ;  infrequent,     (p.  78.) Slippery  Elm. 

Twigs  smoothish ;  leaves  over  2 
inches    long,    but    slightly    rough ; 

bark  on  large  trees  mostly  scaly,     (p.  76.) White  Elm. 

Twigs  smoothish;  the  leaves  about 
2  inches  long ;  bark  on  large 
trunks  firm  and  furrowed  ;  the  bark 
of  twigs  often  corky  winged,     (p.  77.) WiNGBD  Elm. 


III.  PALMS;  TREES  WITHOUT  LIMBS; 
hnited  in  this  State  to  the  Palmetto,  a 
small  tree  with  unbranched  stem  about  10 
inches  in  diameter  and  a  small  crown  of 
evergreen  leaves  two  feet  or  more  in  breadth ; 
found  only  along  the  coast  to  the  south  of 
Cape  Hatteras.     (p.  136.) 


.Palmetto. 


TIMBER  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


GIFFORD  PINCHOT 


TIMBER  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


By  Gifford  Pinchot 


Magnolia  foetida,  Sargent.^ 


(MAGNOLIA.) 


A  large  pyramidal  tree,  with  gray  or  light  brown  bark  covered 
with  small  thin  scales,  reaching  a  height  of  90  and  a  diameter  of 
U  feet. 

It  occurs  southward  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
rarely  more  than  fifty  or  sixty  miles  from  the  coast,  to  Mosquito 
inlet  and  Tampa  bay,  Florida;  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  the  val- 
ley of  the  Brazos  river,  Texas  ;  in  western  Louisiana  and  southern 
Arkansas,  and  on  the  bluffs  of  the  lower  Mississippi,  where  it 
reaches  its  best  development. 


MAP  OF 

NOKTH   CAKOLINA 


LEGEND. 
Distribution  of  the  CUCUMBER  TREE 
(Magnolia  acuminata,  Z.) 

Distribution  of   the  MAGNOLIA  (Mag- 
nolia foetida,  Sar^.) 


In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  50 
to  70  feet,  it  is  found  rather  sparingly  in  Brunswick  county,  in 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  State  (fig.  1),  growing  in  the  rich, 
moist  soil  of  river  swamps. 

It  reproduces  itself  rather  slowly  in  the  latitude  of  this  State, 

*Magnolia  grancUflora,  Liniifeus. 

3 


34 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


and  young  seedlings  are  very  rarely  found  in  the  forest,  although 
the  tree  flowers  and  matures  fruit  not  only  regularly  but,  for  the 
most  part,  abundantly  as  well. 

The  long  thick  leathery  evergreen  leaves  are  downy  underneath, 
and  remain  npon  the  tree  for  two  years.  The  fragrant  creamy- 
white  flowers  are  very  large  and  conspicuous,  often  7  or  8  inches 
across.  The  oval  fruit  is  rusty  brown  in  color,  3  to  4  inches  long 
by  Ih  to  2h  inches  broad.  The  winter-buds  are  thickly  covered 
with  dark  rusty  hairs.  The  roots,  finely  divided,  penetrate  the 
soil  to  a  moderate  depth. 

The  wood  is  moderately  hard,  close-grained,  not  strong,  easily 
worked,  not  durable  in  contact  -with  the  soil,  and  is  as  valuable 
as  that  of  the  other  magnolias;  creamy-white  in  color;  the  thick 
sapwood  nearly  white.  Although  well  suited  for  cabinet  work 
and  interior  finish,  the  wood  is  little  used  except  for  fuel. 


Magnolia  glauca,  Linnajus. 
(white  bay.      sweet  bay.      swamp  bay.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  gray  branches  and  light  brown  small-scaled 
bark,  reaching  a  height  of  70  and  a  diameter  of  3|  feet. 

It  occurs  in  deep,  wet  swamps  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts, 
where  it  is  reduced  to  a  low  shrub,  and  extends  from  New  Jersey 


MAP  OF 

NORTH    CAROLINA 


COASTAL  PLAINREGION 


LEGEND 
Distribution  of  the  WHITE  BAY 
'  (Magnolia  glauca,  Z.) 

j  Distribution  of  the  MOUNTAIN  MAGNOLIA 
1  (Magnolia  f raseri,  IVai/.) 


its  best  development,  and  southern  Texas.     It  is  not  found  in  the 


CUCUMBER    TREE.  35 

Appalachian  mountains.  In  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states 
it  forms,  with  the  loblolly  bay  and  red  bay,  low,  almost  impene- 
trable thickets  on  tbe  borders  of  pine  barren  ponds  and  shal- 
low swamps,  and  reaches  its  best  development  in  the  interior  of 
Florida. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  12  to 
25  feet,  it  is  confined  to  wet  lands  or  the  margins  of  bodies  of  fresh 
or  salt  water  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  in 
the  coastal  plain  region  (fig.  2,  p.  34),  although  not  common  in 
the  former.  In  the  coastal  plain  region  there  are  two  well-marked 
forms,  dependent  upon  the  quality  of  the  soil ;  one,  a  tree  of  some 
size,  the  other  rarely  over  10  feet  in  height.  With  the  white 
cedar  it  forms  a  large  part  of  the  growth  of  the  "juniper  bays." 
Sometimes  after  the  white  cedar  has  been  cnt,  and  usually  after 
these  swamps  have  been  burned,  thickets  of  this  bay  appear. 

Seed  is  borne  abundantly  every  year.  The  rate  of  growth  is 
fairly  rapid,  especially  in  youth.  Trees  of  all  ages  sprout  freely 
from  the  stumps,  and  shoots  usually  appear  after  a  tree  has  been 
killed  by  fire. 

The  oblong  leaves,  which  are  pale  green  above  and  white 
beneath,  are  partly  deciduous  in  this  State,  especially  toward  the 
Piedmont  plateau.  The  pure  white  fragrant  flowers  bloom  in  May, 
and  the  dark  red  fruit  is  oval,  smooth,  2  inches  long,  and  IJ 
inches  broad.  The  winter-buds  are  thickly  covered  with  fine  hairs. 
The  tree  has  a  superficial  root  system. 

The  wood  is  soft,  light,  close-grained,  and  not  stroog ;  light 
brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  creamy-white.  It  is  occasion- 
ally used  for  broom  handles  and  woodenware.  A  tonic  and  diu- 
retic is  obtained  from  the  bark. 

Magnolia  acuminata,  Linnseus. 
(cucumber  tree.) 

A  tall  slender  tree,  with  furrowed  dark  brown  bark  broken  into 
numerous  thin  scales,  reaching  a  height  of  90  and  a  diameter  of 
5  feet. 

It  occurs  from  western  New  York  through  southern  Ontario  to 


36  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

southern  Illinois,  and  southward  along  the  Appalachian  moun- 
tains to  southern  Alabama  and  northeastern  Mississippi.  It  grows 
sparingly  in  central  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  and  in  portions  of 
Arkansas,  and  reaches  its  best  development  in  the  mountains  of 
Tennessee  and  the  Carolinas. 

In  Korth  Carolina,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  60  to 
80  feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  3  to  4  feet,  it  is  found  on  moist, 
fertile  soil  in  the  mountains,  and  rarely  as  far  to  the  east  of  the 
mountains  as  Stanly  county.  (Fig.  1,  p.  33.)  Seed  is  produced 
frequently  but  seldom  abundantly.  Though  young  seedlings  are 
common,  many  of  them  are  quickly  crowded  out  by  other  species 
when  the  mature  trees  are  removed.  Smaller  trees  sprout  from 
the  stump  to  a  limited  extent.     The  rate  of  growth  is  rapid. 

The  rather  broad,  pointed  leaves  are  bright  green  above  and 
slightly  paler  below.  The  yellowish-green  flowers  appear  towards 
the  latter  part  of  May,  and  the  dark  red  fruit  is  oblong,  2J  to  3 
inches  long  by  1  inch  broad.  The  winter-buds  are  densely  cov- 
ered with  silky  wliite  hairs. 

There  are  numerous  deep  lateral  roots   and,  rarely,  a   taproot. 

The  wood  is  soft,  satiny,  light,  not  strong,  close-grained  and 
durable  ;  light  yellow-brown  in  color ;  the  thin  sapwood  often 
nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  water  pipes,  troughs,  flooring  and 
cabinetmaking.  This  tree  has  been  cut  to  a  large  extent  in  most 
of  the  mountain  counties  except  Alleghany,  Graham,  Mitchell, 
Clay,  Watauga,  Yancey,  Macon,  and  Swain. 

Mag-nolia  macrophylla,  Michaux. 

(great-leaved  magnolia.) 

A  spreading  tree,  with  thin  smooth,  light  gray  bark  divided 
into  minute  scales,  reaching  a  height  of  50  feet  and  a  diameter  of 
20  inches. 

It  occurs  from  the  sheltei'ed  valleys  about  the  base  of  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains  of  North  Carolina  and  southeastern  Kentucky, 
to  middle  and  western  Florida  and  southern  Alabama,  and  through 
northern  Mississippi  to  the  valley  of  the  Pearl  river  in  Louisiana, 


UMBKELLA    TREE. 


37 


and  in  central  Arkansas,  reaching  its  best  development  in  northern 
Alabama. 


In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  15  to  30  feet,  it  is 
found  in  Lincoln  county  and  to  some  extent  on  the  French  Broad 
river  about  Asheville.     (Fig.  3.) 

It  bears  seed  in  large  quantities  at  frequent  intervals.  Few  years 
pass  without  some  mast.  Young  seedlings  are,  hovi^ever,  uncom- 
mon in  the  dense  woods.  Young  trees  sprout  vigorously  when 
cut. 

The  leaves  are  very  large,  from  20  to  30  inches  long  and  9  to  10 
inches  broad,  and  are  clustered  at  the  summit  of  the  branches. 
The  white  fragrant  flowers  are  also  large,  and  the  bright  rose-col- 
ored fruit  is  broadly  egg-shaped  and  2J  to  3  inches  long.  The 
large  winter-bnds  are  covered  with  thick  silky  white  hairs.  There 
are  strong  lateral  and  numerous  fibrous  roots. 

The  wood  is  hard,  close-grained,  light,  and  not  strong;  light 
brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  light  yellow.  It  has  no  com- 
mercial value. 

Magnolia  tripetala,  Linnsus. 

(umbrella  tree.) 

A  small  tree,  with  irregular  branches,  and  smooth,  light  gray 
bark  marked  with  numerous  small  blister  like  excrescences,  reach- 
ing a  height  of  10  feet  and  a  diameter  of  18  inches. 


38  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

It  occurs  along  the  Appalachians  from  Pennsylvania  to  central 
Alabama,  and  extends  in  the  south  Atlantic  states  nearly  to  the 
coast,  and  westward  to  middle  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  north- 
western Mississippi,  and  central  and  southwestern  Arkansas.  It 
reaches  its  best  development  among  the  Smoky  mountains  of  Ten- 
nessee and  North  Carolina. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  25  to  35  feet,  it 
is  found  on  rich,  moist,  deep  soil  throughout  the  State  (fig  3,  p. 
37^,  but  is  nowhere  common.  The  production  of  seed  is  frequent 
and  abundant,  and  seedlings  are  found  wherever  a  group  of  mature 
trees  occur.      It  is  easily  propagated  by  shoots  from  the  stump. 

The  large  thin,  oblong  leaves  are  clustered  at  the  ends  of  the 
branchlets.  The  conspicuous  white  flowers,  about  5  inches  in  diam- 
eter, appear  in  May.  The  bright  rose-colored  fruit  is  egg-shaped, 
3J  to  4  inches  long.  The  large  purple  winter-buds  are  covered 
with  a  whitish  bloom. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  weak,  close-grained  ;  brown  in  color  ;  the 
heavier  sapwood  creamy-white.      It  has  no  commercial  value. 

Mag-nolia  fraseri,  Walter. 

(mountain    magnolia.       WAHOO.       INDIAN    BITTERS.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  regular  and  wide-spreading  or  contorted 
branches,  and  dark  brown,  smooth  or  minutely  scaled  bark.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a  diameter  of  18  inches. 

It  occurs  from  the  mountains  of  southwestern  Virginia  to  soutli- 
el-n  Alabama  and  western  Florida,  and  westward  through  east 
Tennessee  and  northern  Mississippi  to  the  valley  of  the  Pearl 
river.  It  grows  in  the  valleys  of  mountain  streams,  and  reaches  its 
best  development  on  the  tributaries  of  ti)e  Savannah  river,  and  on 
the  slopes  of  the  Black  and  Big  Smoky  mountains.  Locally  abun- 
dant, it  is  the  least  widely  distributed  of  the  American  magnolias. 

In  this  State  it  occurs  in  all  the  counties  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
and  in  the  western  parts  of  those  immediately  east  of  it.  It  is 
most  common  in  Ashe,  Mitchell,  Yancey,  Swain,  Macon,  Transyl- 
vania, and  Burke  counties.     (Fig.  2,  p.  34.) 


N.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


JL'I-I.ETIN  6.   PLATE  II. 


YELLOW     POPLAR 


PAP AW.  41 

rior  finish,  boat   building,  shingles,  pumps,  and  woodenware.      A 
tonic  and  stimulant  is  made  from  the  inner  bark  of  the  root. 

Large  quantities  of  poplar  have  been  sawed  in  the  last  few 
years  in  eastern  North  Carolina  and  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
crates,  trucking  boxes,  etc.,  but  there  is  still  a  great  deal  of  tim- 
ber standing  in  the  counties  north  of  the  Neuse  river.  The  mer- 
chantable poplar  has  been  cut  for  the  most  part  in  the  midland 
counties.  It  has  been  estimated  that  about  500,000,000  feet  of 
merchantable  yellow  poplar  is  standing  in  the  mountains  of  west- 
ern North  Carolina.  This  is  principally  in  Ashe,  Alleghany, 
Watauga,  Mitchell,  Yancey,  Hajwopd,  Transylvania,  Swain,  Gra- 
ham, and  Macon  counties.  Asheville  is  the  chief  seat  of  the 
manufacture  of  poplar  lumber  ;  a  ureat  deal  is  manufactured  also 
at  Dillsboro,  Magnetic  City,  and  Cranberry.  Between  12,000,000 
and  13,000,000  feet  of  poplar  was  sawed  for  shipment  during  1892 
in  the  counties  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  half  as  much  more  for 
local  use. 

Asimina  triloba,  Dunal. 

(PAPAW.) 

A  shrub  or  low  tree,  with  slender  spreading  branches  and  dark 
brown  bark  marked  with  large  ash-colored  blotches,  sometimes 
reaching  a  height  of  40  and  a  diameter  of  1  foot. 

It  occurs  from  western  New  York  and  the  northern  shores  of 
Lake  Ontario,  southward  to  central  and  eastern  Pennsylvania, 
westward  to  southern  Michigan,  southern  Indiana  and  eastern 
Kansas,  and  south  to  middle  Florida  and  eastern  Texas.  It  is 
comparatively  rare  toward  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  but  very  com- 
mon in  the  Mississippi  valley,  reaching  its  best  development  along 
the  tributaries  of  the  lower  Ohio  river  and  the  streams  of  central 
and  southern  Arkansas,  where  it  grows  in  deep  rich  and  rather 
moist  soil,  sometimes  to  the  exclusion  of  other  trees. 

In  North  Carolina  it  occurs  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  is  most 
abundant  in  the  northeastern  and  middle  sections  on  somewhat 
swampy  or  alluvial  lands,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of 
from  10  to  15  feet.      It  is  rare  in  the  sand  barrens  of  the  south- 


4:2  TIMBER    TKEES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

eastern  part,  and  altogether  wanting  in  the  high  mountains.  It 
reproduces  itself  freely. 

The  lai'ge  deciduous  leaves  are  sharp  pointed  at  the  apex  and 
contracted  at  the  base.  The  flowers,  which  are  nearly  2  inches 
across,  are  a  dull  deep  red  at  maturity.  The  edible  fruit  is  dark 
brown,  almost  black,  oblong,  rounded,  3  to  5  inches  long  by  1  to 
Ij  inches  broad,  and  from  6  to  12  ounces  in  weight. 

The  pointed  winter-buds,  i  of  an  inch  in  length,  are  covered 
with  rusty  brown  hairs. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  weak,  coarse-grained,  spongy,  with  the 
annual  layers  clearly  marked  ;  light  yellow  in  color;  the  thin  sap- 
wood  somewhat  lighter. 

Gordonia  lasianthus,  Ellis. 
(bay.      bull  bay.      loblolly  bay.) 

A  medium  size  tree,  with  a  narrow,  compact  liead,  and  dark 
red-brown  scaly  bark,  broken  into  regular  shallow  furrows  and 
parallel  rounded  ridges.  It  reaches  a  height  of  75  and  a  diameter 
of  2  feet ;   or  is  rarely  a  low  shrub. 

It  occurs  from  the  southern  part  of  Virginia  to  southern  Flor- 
ida and  westward  to  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  river.  It  is 
most  common  in  Georgia  and  eastern  Florida,  reaching  its  best 
development  in  damp  situations. 

In  North  Carolina  it  occurs  in  the  coast  region,  where  it  reaches 
a  height  of  .50  to  70  feet,  and  a  diameter  of  IS  to  21  inches. 

It  bears  some  seed  nearly  every  year,  and  full  seed  years  are 
frequent.  .  Young  seedlings  are  common  throughout  the  range  of 
the  species. 

The  thick  dark  evergreen  leaves  are  oblong,  pointed  at  the 
apex  and  narrowly  conti acted  at  the  base.  The  fragrant  white 
flowers  appear  late  in  summer;  and  the  fruit  is  a  woody,  egg- 
shaped  capsule.  The  narrowly  pointed  winter-buds  are  covered 
with  pale  silky  hairs. 

The   wood  is  light,  soft,  close-grained,  not  strong  or  durable; 


LIN.       BASSWOOD. 


4a 


light  red  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  occasionally 
used  for  cabinetmaking ;  and  the  bark  has  been  locally  employed 
in  tanning. 

Tilia  americana,  Linnaeus. 

(baSSWOOD.        LIN.        LINDEN.) 

A  tall  tree,  with  slender,  often  pendulous  branches,  and  thick^ 
furrowed,  light  brown  bark  covered  with  small,  thin  scales.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  130  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  in  rich  soil  from  northern  New  Brunswick  to  the  south- 
ern shore  of  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  southward  through  the  Atlantic 
states  to  Virginia,  along  the  Appalachian  mountains  to  Alabama 
and  Georgia,  and  to  eastern  Texas.     It   reaches  its  best  develop- 


ment along  the  northern  tributaries  of  the  lower  Ohio  river.  One 
of  the  most  common  trees  of  the  northern  forest,  it  formerly  occu- 
pied exclusively  large  tracts  of  the  richest  land. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  .50  to  80  and  a 
diameter  of  1  to  4  feet,  it  is  found  more  or  less  widely  distributed 
in  the  mountains  and  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau 
along  the  slopes  of  mountain  spurs  arid  higher  hills,  while  in 
the  lower  Piedmont  and  coastal  plain  regions  it  is  found  sparsely 
distributed  as  a  smaller  tree.     (Fig.  r>.) 

Basswood  bears  seed  very  abundantly  every  2  or  3  years.  The 
young  growth   is  eagerly  devoured   by  cattle.      Specimens  over   2 


44  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

feet  in  diameter  are  usually  hollow  at  the  butt  and  not  uncommonly 
through  the  entire  stem.  Stumps  of  trees  which  have  been  cut  or 
blown  down  sprout  vigorously.      Windfalls  are  frequent. 

The  large  thick  roundish  leaves  are  sharp-toothed,  narrow- 
pointed  at  the  apex,  and  unevenly  heart-shaped  at  the  base.  The 
•clusters  of  small  white  flowers  are  borne  on  an  olDlong,  leaf-like 
bract,  and  the  fruit  is  egg  shaped,  about  i  inch  in  length  and  cov- 
ered with  short  gray  wool.  The  dark  red  winter-buds  are  stout, 
egg-shaped,  and  pointed.  The  root  system  is  a  network  of  strong 
lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  soft,  straight-grained,  not  durable;  light  brown  in 
color  ;  the  thick  sapwood  hardly  distinguishable.  It  is  largely  used 
for  lumber,  and,  under  the  name  of  whitewood,  in  the  manufact- 
ure of  woodenware  and  furniture,  for  carriage-making,  and  for  the 
inner  soles  of  shoes.  It  is  extensively  used  for  paper  pulp,  and 
occasionally  the  inner  bark  is  made  into  coarse  cordage  and  matting. 

In  this  State  it  is  not  sawed  into  lumber  to  any  considerable 
extent,  but  large  numbers  of  trees  are  cut  in  the  winter  that  cattle 
may  feed  upon  the  buds  and  twigs.  It  is  much  prized  by  apiarists 
because  the  clearest  honey  and  whitest  comb  are  made  from  its 
flowers. 

Tilia  pubescens,  Alton. 

(southern    LIN.        LINDEN.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  a  large  oval  crown,  slender  gray  branches, 
and  rough  dark  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  2 
feet. 

It  has  been  found  as  far  north  as  Long  Island,  and  it  grows  in 
cool,  moist  situations  on  the  coast  of  ISTorth  and  South  Carolina  and 
Oeorgia,  in  northern  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Texas.  It  is  not  a 
•common  tree. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  a  height  of  50  to  60  feet,  it 
occurs  on  deep,  sandy,  fertile  soil,  usually  on  the  margins  of  swamps 
or  streams,  in  the  coastal  plain  region.  (Fig.  5,  p.  43.)  In  the 
Piedmont  plateau  region  it  occurs  rarely,  if  at  all. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  seed,  which  is  borne  frequently  and 
in  abundance,  is  unproductive,  and  seedlings  are  uncommon.  It 
sprouts  very  freely  from  the  stump. 


N.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN  6.   PLATE  III. 


LIN   OR   BASSWOOD 


LIN.        LINDEN.  45 

The  leaves  are  covered  beneath  with  a  thin,  rusty  down.  The 
flowers  are  smaller  than  in  the  preceding  species,  and  the  dry  glo- 
bose fruit  is  small,  pubescent,  and  nsnally  one-seeded.  The  winter- 
buds,  which  are  covered  with  a  short,  fine  pubescence,  are  of  a 
dark  reddish-brown  color.  The  Southern  lin  has  numerous  usually 
deeply  seated  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  similar  to  that  of  Tilia  americana,  of  which  this 
tree  has  been  considered  a  variety. 

Tilia  heterophylla,  Ventenat. 

(lin.      linden.) 

A  tree,  with  slender  branches  forming  a  pyramidal  head,  and 
furrowed  bark  broken  into  short  thin  light  brown  scales,  occa- 
sionally reaching  a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet.  (Plate- 

ni.) 

jrrowing  in  moist  soil,  often  over  limestone  rock,  it  occurs  from 
Pennsylvania  southward  along  the  Appalachians  to  northern  Ala- 
bama and  central  Florida,  and  westward  to  middle  Tennessee, 
Kentucky,  and  southern  Indiana  and  Illinois;  and  reaches  its  best 
development  on  the  mountain  slopes  of  eastern  Tennessee.  It  is 
not  common. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  40  feet  and 
an  average  diameter  of  12  to  18  inches,  it  is  most  common  in  the 
mountains,  (fig.  5,  p.  43),  and  occurs  sparingly  in  the  Piedmont 
plateau  and  coastal  plain.  It  is  much  more  abundant  in  North 
Carolina  than  Tilia  americana,  and  bears  seed  "more  frequently 
and  generally  in  greater  quantity.  It  is  readily  propagated  by 
shoots.  Unless  protected  the  low  growth  is  almost  immediately 
eaten  by  cattle. 

The  linden  borer,  Saperda  vestita.  Say,  bores  into  the  sapwood 
of  the  standing  tree. 

The  leaves  are  generally  larger  than  those  of  Tilia  americana, 
and  are  covered  on  the  lower  side  with  a  silvery  white  down. 
The  flowers  appear  earlier  in  the  spring,  and  the  round  fruit,  f 
inch  in  diameter,  is  covered  with  short  gray  down.  The  egg- 
shaped  winter-buds  are  bright  red,  covered  with  a  whitish  bloom. 


46  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

The  wood  is  soft,  li.o;lit,  straight-grained,  not  durable;  light 
brown  in  color;  the  thin  sapwood  hardlj'  distinguishable.  Com- 
mercially it  is  not  distinguished  from  the  wood  of  Tilia  americana. 

Ilex  opaca,  Aiton. 

(holly.) 

A  small  tree,  with  short,  slender  branches,  which  form  a  pyra- 
midal liead,  and  roughened  light  gray  bark,  reaching  a  height  of 
50  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

At  the  north  it  grows  in  dry  gravelly  soil  ;  at  the  south,  in  rich, 
moist  situations.  It  occurs  from  Massachusetts  to  Florida  ;  in  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  from  southern  Indiana  to  the  gulf  of 
Mexico;  and  through  Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Louisiana  to  eastern 
Texas.  It  is  common  south  of  the  Hudson  in  fertile  bottom  lands, 
except  in  the  Appalachian  region  and  just  west  of  it,  where  it  is 
exceedingly  rare;  and  reaches  its  best  development  in  southern 
Arkansas  and  eastern  Texas. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  30  feet, 
and  an  average  diameter  of  12  inches,  it  is  common  except  in  the 
mountains.  Specimens  growing  in  the  coast  region  are  much 
larger  than  those  found  further  inland. 

Fertile  trees  generally  bear  seed  every  3'ear,  although  not  with 
uniform  abundance,  and  young  growth  is  common  in  open  spots. 
Old  trees  do  not  sprout  from  the  stump  as  readily  as  young  ones. 

The  oval  evergreen  leaves  are  thick,  leathery  and  armed  w'ith 
spiny  teeth.  The  flowers  are  small  but  conspicuous  from  their 
number.  Tlie  round  fruit  is  about  i  inch  in  diameter,  dull  red  or 
rarely  yellow  in  color,  and  remains  on  the  tree  during  the  winter. 
The  winter-buds  are  short,  blunt  or  pointed,  the  narrow-pointed 
scales  slightly  hairy  on  the  margins.  The  holly  has  a  tap-root 
and  numerous  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  light,  tough,  not  strong,  very  close-grained  ;  nearly 
white  in  color  ;  the  thick  sapwood  somewhat  lighter.  It  is  easily 
worked,  takes  a  beautiful  polish  and  is  much  used  for  cabinet- 
making,  interior  finish,  and  turning. 


IRONWOOD,       BUCKEYE.  47 

The  merchantable  holly  has  been  largely  cut  in  the  northeast- 
ern counties;  trees  large  enough  for  commercial  use  still  remain, 
however,  scattered  through  counties  on  the  coast. 

Cyrilla  racemiflora,  Linnaeus. 

(iRONWOOD.        LEATHER    WOOD.        BOXWOOD.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  numerous  wide-spreading  branches,  and 
bright  red-brown  scaly  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  35  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  14  inches  ;  or  often  a  broad  bush. 

It  occurs  in  various  situations  from  North  Carolina  southward 
near  the  coast  to  middle  Florida,  and  westward  to  eastern  Texas, 
reaching  its  best  development  on  the  coast  of  the  gulf  of  Mexico. 

In  this  State  it  is  found  usually  along  streams  and  swamps  fi'om 
Hertford  county  southward,  its  western  limits  passing  through 
Halifax,  Wake,  and  Anson  counties. 

It  usually  produces  seed  very  abundantly  every  second  year, 
and  young  trees  and  seedlings  are  common  on  the  borders  of 
swamps  and  pine  barren  ponds.  Trees  are  frequently  hollow 
through  the  entire  stem,  even  when  quite  young,  generally  as  the 
result  of  a  broken  branch. 

The  small  thick  oblong  leaves  are  partly  evergreen  in  the 
extreme  eastern  part  of  the  State.  The  numerous  whitish  flowers 
appear  in  slender  racemes  in  the  early  part  of  summer,  and  the  very 
small  fruit  is  broadly  egg-shaped.  The  narrow-pointed  winter- 
buds  are  covered  with  chestnut-brown  scales.  The  roots  are  lateral 
and  superficial. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  weak,  close-grained  ;  light  brown  in 
color;  the  sapwood  a  little  lighter;  and  is  not  used  in  North 
Carolina. 

Aesculus  octandra,  Marshall. 

(BUCKEYE.       SWEET    BUCKEYE.) 

A  large  straight  tree,  with  small,  rather  pendulous  branches 


48  TIMBER     tKEES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

and  dark  brown  seal}'  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  90  and  a  diam- 
eter of  4  feet,  or  towards  its  southern  or  southwestern  limit 
reduced  to  a  low  shrub. 

It  grows  in  deep  fertile  soil  from  Pennsylvania  southward  along 
the  Alleghanies  to  northern  Georgia  and  Alabama,  and  westward 
to  southern  Iowa  and  Indian  Territory  and  western  Texas,  reach- 
ing its  greatest  development  in  the  Alleghany  mountains  of  Ten- 
nessee and  North  Carolina. 

In  this  State  it  occurs  as  a  tree  in  the  mountains,  and  in  the 
Piedmont  plateau,  where  it  is  reduced  to  a  mere  shrub. 

Trees  growing  in  the  open  produce  seed  nearly  every  year; 
forest  trees  less  frequently.  Seedlings  are  common  except  in  deep 
shade,  especially  in  the  Piedmont  plateau.  Young  trees  grow 
rapidly  if  sufficiently  exposed  to  the  light. 

The  buckeye  stem-borers,  Steganoptycha  claypoleana,  Fernald, 
and  Proteoteras  fesculana,  Riley,  penetrate  the  leaf-stems  and 
twigs.  Trees  over  2  feet  in  diameter,  particularly  in  very  damp 
situations,  are  apt  to  be  hollow  or  affected   with  dry  rot. 

The  leaves  are  composed  of  5  to  7  elliptical,  pointed,  sharply 
toothed  leaflets.  The  yellowish  flowers  appear  late  in  spring  in 
large  erect  clusters,  and  the  fruit  is  2  or  3  inches  long,  with  the 
reddish-brown  seeds  Ij  to  2  inches  broad.  The  winter-buds  are 
large  and  scaly. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  compact,  and  difticult  to  split;  creamy- 
white  in  color;  the  sapwood  hardly  distinguishable.  Although 
one  of  the  commonest  trees  in  the  high  mountains,  it  has  but  few 
uses;  the  softness  of  the  wood  and  the  fact  that  it  decays  rapidly 
when  exposed  to  the  weather  or  in  contact  with  the  soil,  excludes 
it  from  construction.  It  is  sometimes  used  with  linden  for  ceil- 
ing and  other  interior  work. 

Acer  spicatum,  Lamarck. 

(mountain  maple,     swamp  dogwood.) 

A  small  bushy  tree,  with  slender  upright  branches  and  reddish- 
brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  30  feet  and  a  diameter  of  8. 
inches. 


STRIPED    MAPLE.  49 

It  occurs  in  the  shade  of  other  trees,  from  the  valley  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  westward  to  northern  Minnesota  and  the  Saskatchewan 
region,  and  southward  to  northern  Georgia;  reaching  its  best 
development  in  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  usually  a  shrub  6  to  10  feet  high,  it  is 
confined  to  cold,  damp  places  in  the  high  mountains.  It  bears 
seed  about  every  third  year  ;  seedlings  are  not  common  ;  but  yonng 
sprouts  are  very  abundant  around  old  trees,  which  latter  are  usually 
hollow. 

The  leaves  are  3  or  rarely  5-lobed,  coarsely  toothed  and  downy 
beneath.  The  greenish-yellow  flowers  are  in  erect,  slender  clus- 
ters. The  fruit  is  bright  red  in  July,  turning  brown  late  in  the 
autumn,  and  is  rather  more  than  an  inch  across.  The  winter-buds 
are  sharply  pointed.     The  root  system  is  superficial. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  close-grained,  compact;  light  brown  in 
color  ;  the  sapwood  being  much  lighter.  The  mountain  maple  does 
not  grow  large  enough  for  commercial  use. 

Acer  pennsylvanicum,  Linnaeus. 

(striped     maple.        swamp    pOGWOOD.        DEERWOOD.) 

A  small  tree,  with  slender,  upright  branches,  and  roughened 
reddish-brown  bark.  It  reaches  a  height  of  -10  feet  and  a  diameter 
of  10  inches,  but  is  often  mucli  smaller,  and  shabby  in  habit. 

It  occurs  from  the  valley  of  the  Saguenay  river  westward  to 
northeastern  Minnesota,  and  southward  to  northern  Georgia.  It 
is  common  in  the  northern  A':lantic  states,  but  reaches  its  best 
development  in  the  mountains  of  Tennessee  and  the  Carolinas. 

In  this  State  it  is  confined  to  the  coldest  and  dampest  parts  of 
the  high  mountains.  Seed  is  produced  annually  or  once  in  two 
years.  Small  trees  are  very  sensitive  to  fire,  but  when  burned 
sprout  readily  from  the  stump. 

The  leaves  are  large,  3-lobed  at  the  end,  and  sharply  toothed. 
They  are  much  eaten  by  cattle.  The  greenish  flowers  occur  in 
loose,  drooping  racemes,  and  the  winged  fruit  is  smooth,  I  inch  in 
length.     The  bright  red  winter-buds  are  stalked. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  and  close-grained  ;  light  brown  in  color  ; 
4 


50 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


the  thick  sapwoodof  30  to  40  layers  of  annual  growth,  still  lighter. 
It  is  not  used  in  Xorth  Carolina. 

Acer  barbatum,  Michaux.* 
(sugar  maple,      sugar-tree,      rock  maple.) 

A  large  tree  of  great  commercial  value,  with  a  broad  round  top 
when  old,  and  light  gray-brown  deeply  furrowed  bark,  reaching  a 
height  of  120  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet.     (Plate  lY.) 

It  grows  in  rich  woods,  often  forming  extensive  forests,  and  is 
most  abundant  in  the  mountains.  It  occurs  from  southern  New- 
foundland to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  southward  to  northern  Ala- 
bama and  western  Florida,  and  westward  to  Minnesota,  eastern 
Nebraska,  Kansas  and  Texas  ;  reaciiing  its  best  development  in  the 
region  of  the  great  lakes. 


1  Area  Li  which  the  SUGAR  MAPLE  is  found 
j      only  locally. 


It  occurs  throughout  this  State,  growing  to  an  average  height 
of  from  50  to  80  feet  and  a  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  but  is  most  com- 
mon in  the  mountains.  It  is  a  small  tree  in  the  Piedmont  plateau 
and  reduced  to  a  mere  shrub  in  the  coastal  plain  region,  where  it 
is  confined  to  borders  of  streams  and  swamps.     (Fig.  6.) 

The  sugar  maple  bears  seed  about  every  third  or  fourth  year. 
Seedlings  are  very  abundant  in  the  woods,  and  bear  dense  shade 
remarkably  well;  they  spring  up  quickly  in  thinned  woods,  also, 
and  where  lumbering  has  been  in  progress. 


*Acer  saccharinum,  Wagn. 


N.'C.   GEOI^OGICAI,  SURVEY. 


BULI.ETIN  6.''  fPLATE 


SUGAR    MAPLE 


SILVER    MAPLE.  51 

Glycobiiis  speciosiis,  Say,  a  borer  destroys  the  trees  by  girdling 
thera  or  penetrating  the  wood,  and  young  specimens  are  killed  by 
a  timber  beetle,  Cortliyhis  punctatissimns,  Zimm.,  which  enters 
and  mines  the  stem  at  or  near  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

The  leaves  are  3  to  5-lobed,  with  rounded  notches,  heart-shaped 
at  the  base,  smooth  above,  and  glaucous  beneath  The  greenish- 
yellow  flowers  occur  in  umbel-like  clusters,  appearing  with  the 
leaves  in  the  spring.  The  winged  fruit  is  an  inch  in  length. 
The  purple  winter-buds  are  pointed,  i  inch  in  length.  The  sugar 
maple  has  a  tap-root  and  numerous  strong  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  close-grained,  tough,  and  takes 
a  good  polish.  The  heartwood  is  light  brown  ;  the  thin  sapwood, 
of  30  or  40  layers  of  annual  growth,  somewhat  lighter.  It  is 
more  valuable  than  the  wood  of  any  other  American  maple,  and 
is  largely  used  as  fuel,  for  interior  finish,  furniture,  and  turnery, 
in  ship-building,  for  the  handles  of  tools,  saddle-trees,  shoe-lasts, 
shoe-pegs.  Curled  and  bird's-eye  maple  are  highly  prized  for 
cabinet  work.  Maple  sugar  is  produced  chiefly  from  tiiis  tree, 
and  its  ashes  make  a  valuable  fertilizer. 

Acer  saccharinum,  Linnaeus.* 
(silver  maple,     maple,     soft  maple.) 

A  large  tree,  with  upright  main  branches  and  pendulous 
branchlets,  and  reddish-brown  scaly  bark,  reaching  a  height  of 
120  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  grows  in  rich  soil,  and  is  most  common  west  of  the  x\lleghany 
mountains.  It  occurs  from  New  Brunswick  to  Ontario,  southward 
to  western  Florida,  westward  to  eastern  Dakota,  eastern  Nebraska, 
the  valley  of  the  Blue  river,  Kansas  and  the  Indian  Territory, 
reaching  its  best  development  in  the  basin  of  the  lower  Ohio  river. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  not  very  common,  it  occurs  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  in  the  mountains  along 
streams  and  in  cool  situations,  and  attains  a  height  of  30  to  50 
and  a  diameter  of  1  to  2  feet. 

*Acer  dasycarpuni,  Ehrh. 


52  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Youno;  o-rowtli  is  frequent  on  moist  land,  where  the  forest  cover 
is  light,  and  in  old  fields.  It  produces  seed  at  irregular  intervals, 
and  for  the  most  part,  not  abundantly.  Trees  under  a  foot  in 
diameter  sprout  freely  from  the  stump.  A'ery  large  specimens 
are  apt  to  be  hollow. 

The  deeply  cut  5  lobed  leaves  are  pale  green  above  and  silvery 
white  beneath.  The  crowded  clusters  of  greenish-yellow  flowers 
appear  before  the  leaves  in  early  spring,  and  the  pale  chestnut- 
brown  winged  fruit  is  protninently  netted-veined,  and  from  1^  to 
3  inches  in  length.  The  short  thick  winter-buds  are  covered  with 
bright  red  scales.  The  silver  maple  has  a  small  tap-root  and 
numerous  strong  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong,  close-grained,  compact,  easily  worked, 
and  rather  brittle  ;  faintly  tinged  with  brown,  with  thick  sapwood 
composed  of  40  to  50  layers  of  annual  growth.  It  is  sometimes 
used  for  cheap  furniture  and  flooring.  Maple  sugar  is  occasion- 
ally made  from  this  tree. 

Acer  rubrum,  Linnseus. 

(red  maple,      swamp  maple,      maple.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  upright  branches  and  dark  gray  flaky  bark, 
reaching  a  height  of  120  and  a  diameter  of  4j  feet. 

It  grows  in  low,  moist  situations,  from  Quebec  and  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods  southward  to  the  Indian  river,  Florida,  and  west  to  the 
eastern  parts  of  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas; 
and  reaches  its  best  development  on  the  lower  Ohio  and  its  trib- 
utaries. 

In  this  State  it  occurs  in  swamps  and  low  grounds,  from  the 
coast  to  the  mountains,  but  is  most  abundant  in  the  coastal  plain. 

There  is  a  large  production  of  seed  about  every  second  year; 
young  trees  are  always  common  in  damp  woods  and  along  streams. 
Old  trees  sprout  from  the  stump  less  rapidly  than  younger  ones. 

The  leaves  are  smaller  and  not  so  deeply  cleft  as  those  of  the 
silver  maple.  The  flowers,  which  appear  early  in  spring,  are 
bright  scarlet  or,  less  commonly,  dull  yellowish-red.  The  winged 
fruit  is  scarlet,  dark  red  or  brown,  i  to  1  inch  in  length  ;   it  ripens 


BOXELDER.  53 

early  in  summer  and  sprouts  immediately  on  falling  to  the  ground. 
The  short  winter-buds  are  blunt  and  covered  with  thick  dark  red 
scales.      The  red  maple  has  numerous  strong  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  very  heavy,  close-grained,  easily  worked,  and  not 
very  strong.  It  is  light  brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood,  some- 
what lighter.  But  little  has  been  cut  in  North  Carolina.  It  is 
employed  mainly  for  interior  iinish,  furniture,  gunstocks  and 
similar  uses.  Maple  sugar  is  occasionally  made  from  this  species, 
the  sap  being  mixed  with  that  of  the  sugar  maple;  and  there  does 
not  appear  to  be  any  marked  difference  between  the  sap  from  the 
two  species,  except  that  that  from  the  red  maple  contains  a 
smaller  per  cent,  of  sugar. 

Acer  negundo,  Linnfeus.* 
(boxelder.     ashleaf  maple.) 

A  tree,  with  a  short  trunk,  and  light  gray  or  brown,  deeply 
furrowed  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  70  and  a  diameter  of  -i  feet. 

It  ranges  from  Vermont  to  Florida;  extending  northwest  and 
west  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  and  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains ;  and  southward  to  Texas,  New  Mexico  and  Arizona.  It 
grows  on  the  banks  of  streams  and  lakes  and  the  borders  of  swamps, 
reaching  its  best  development  in  the  valleys  of  the  tributaries  of 
the  lower  Ohio  river.      In  good  soil  it  grows  rapidly. 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  rare  in  the  coastal  plain  region,  but 
common  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  west  to  the  mountains, 
attaining  an  average  height  of  15  to  25  feet. 

The  leaves  are  composed  of  from  3  to  5  or  rarely,  sparingly 
toothed  leaflets.  The  yellowish-green  flowers  occur  in  drooping 
clusters,  usually  appearing  before  the  leaves  ;  the  sterile  and  fer- 
tile flowers  on  separate  trees.  The  winged  fruit  is  1  j  to  nearly  2 
inches  long,  with  the  thin  netted-veined  wings  diverging  at  a  very 
sharp  angle.  The  winter-buds  are  covered  with  pale  down  ;  the 
lateral  buds  blunt,  the  terminal  bud  acute.  The  light,  soft,  weak, 
close-grained  wood  is  creamy-white,  with  a  thick  and  hardly 
distinguishable  sapwood.      It  is  sometimes  used  for  interior  finish, 

*  Negundo  acei'oides,  Moencli. 


54 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    XORTH    CAROLINA. 


cheap  furniture,  woodenware,  cooperage  and  paper  pulp.     Maple 
sugar  is  occasionally  made  from  this  species. 

Robinia  pseudacacia,  Linnaeus. 
(locust,      black   locust,      yellow  locust.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  erect  brittle  branches  forming  an  oblong 
head,  and  deeply  furrowed  dark  brown  bark.  It  reaches  a  height 
of  80  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Pennsylvania  to  Georgia  along  the  Appalachian 
mountains,  growing  with  hickory,  black  walnut,  ash,  white  oak, 
and  the  chestnut ;  and  reaches  its  best  development  on  the  western 
slopes  of  the  mountains  in  West  Yirginia.  It  has  been  natural- 
ized in  most  of  the  states  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains. 


MAP  OF 
NORTH    CAROLINA 


COAST AL_PLAIN  _REG_ON  ^^^  | 


LEGEND 

i  Area  in  which  the  YELLOW  LOCUST  is  in- 
3      digenous  (Robinia  pseudacacia,  Z.) 

^Area  in  which  the  YELLOW  LOCUST  has 
3      been  extensively  naturalized. 


In  this  State  it  occurs  on  the  lower  ridges  of  the  mountains, 
and  probably  for  some  distance  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.     (Fig.  7.) 

Forest  trees  bear  seed  only  once  in  three  or  four  years.  In  the 
open  the  production  of  seed  is  more  frequent  and  seedlings,  which 
are  short-lived  in  the  shade,  more  common.  The  locust  is  readily 
propagated  by  root  suckers,  and  trees  as  large  as  one  foot  in 
diameter  sprout  from  the  stump.  The  growth  is  rapid  in  youth; 
in  mature  trees  much  slower.  When  cut  in  the  forest,  it  is  usually 
succeeded  by  oaks  and  chestnut.  Old  trees  are  apt  to  be  hollow 
at  the  butt,  and  frequently  in  the  upper  part  of  the  stem,  from 
the  entrance  of  water  where  the  brittle  limbs  have  been  broken  off. 


CLAMMY    LOCUST.  55 

A  borer,  Cyllene  robinias,  Forster,  destroys  the  value  of  large 
trees  or  kills  them  entirely,  and  bark  beetles  often  kill  the  young 
plants.  The  timber  is  also  attacked  by  the  larvae  of  Xylesthia 
clemensella,  Chamb. 

The  leaves  consist  of  from  7  to  19  thin  ovate  leaflets.  The 
white  flowers  appear  in  April  in  large  drooping  clusters,  and  the 
bright  red-brown  fruit  is  a  stout  pod  3  to  4  inches  long.  The 
minute  naked  winter-buds  are  inconspicuous.  The  locust  has 
numerous  superficial  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  close-grained,  and  very  durable  in 
contact  with  the  soil  ;  brown  or  light  green  in  color;  the  very  thin 
sapwood,  of  2  to  3  layers  of  annual  growth,  pale  yellow.  It  is 
extensively  used  in  ship  building  and  for  treenails,  construction, 
posts,  and  other  purposes  where  durability  in  contact  with  the 
ground  is  desired.  It  is  excellent  fuel,  and  is  altogether  one  of 
the  most  valuable  timbers  of  the  American  forest.  The  bark  of 
the  root  is  tonic,  purgative,  and   emetic. 

Large  quantities  of  locust  have  been  cut  in  Jackson,  Macon, 
Swain,  and  Rutherford  counties. 

Robinia  viscosa,  Ventenat. 

(clammy  locust.) 

A  small  tree,  with  slender  spreading  branches  and  smooth  dark 
brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a  diameter  of  12 
inches. 

It  occurs  in  the  high  mountains  of  the  Carolinas,  and  has  be- 
come extensively  naturalized  east  of  the  Mississippi.  In  tliis 
State  it  is  found  on  Buzzard  ridge  in  Macon  county,  growing  as 
a  shrub  only  a  few  feet  higli.  It  has  not  been  seen  growing  wild 
in  any  other  locality  since  the  time  of  Michaux. 

The  twigs  and  leaf-stalks  are  covered  with  a  sticky  substance. 
The  rose-colored  flowers  are  in  short  rather  compact  clusters  and 
the  fruit  is  a. pod  2  to  3h  inches  in  length.  The  minute  winter- 
buds  are  covered  up  in  the  scars  of  the  leaves  of  the  previous 
season. 


56  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

The  wood  is  lieavj,  hard,  close-grained,  and  brown  in  color; 
the  thin  sapwood  light  yellow. 

Cladrastis  lutea,  Koch. 
(yellow   wood,      virgilia.      chittam.) 

A  tree,  with  branching  trunk,  wide-spread  pendulous  branches, 
and  smooth  silvery  gray  or  light  brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of 
60  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  in  central  Kentucky,  central  Tennessee,  on  the  moun- 
tains of  eastern  Tennessee  and  in  North  Carolina,  and  is  one  of 
the  rarest  and  most  local  trees  of  eastern  North  America.  It 
grows  generally  in  rich  soil,  and  reaches  its  best  development  near 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  found  in  Swain,  Clay,  Macon,  and 
Cherokee  counties,  it  has  an  average  diameter  of  18  inches  and  a 
height  of  about  40  feet. 

Large  numbers  of  pods  are  borne  about  every  second  year,  but 
they  coTJtain  many  abortive  seeds.  Seedlings  are  common  near 
old  trees,  when  cattle  are  excluded.  Numerous  sprouts  come  up 
around  old  trees  and  about  live  stumj>s. 

In  Clay  county  a  large  part  of  the  foliage  of  yellow  wood  is 
often  destroyed  in  the  early  fall  by  the  leaf  miner  insect. 

Tiie  leaves  are  composed  of  7  to  11  broadly  oval  entire  leaflets 
placed  alternaj;ely  along  the  leaf  stalks.  The  white  flowers  are 
borne  in  long  terminal  drooping  racemes.  The  fruit  is  a  pod  Ij 
to  4  inches  in  length.  The  lustrous  brown  downy  winter-buds 
are  in  fours,  superposed,  and  crowded  together  to  form  a  cone. 
The  superficial  lateral  roots  are  long  and  very  tough. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  hard,  strong  and  close-grained  ;  bright 
clear  yellow  in  color;  the  thin  sapwood  almost  white.  It  takes 
a  good  polish,  is  used  for  fuel  and  gunstocks,  and  yields  a  clear 
yellow  dye. 

Gleditschia  triacanthos,  Linnpeus. 

(honev   locust.) 

A  large  tree,  with  slender  spreading  branches  and  dark  rough 
deeply  fissured  bark,reaching  a  height  of  140  and  a  diameter  of  6  feet. 


REDBUD.        JUDAS    TREE.  57 

It  occurs  from  Peiiiisjlvania  westward  to  eastern  Nebraska, 
Kansas,  and  Indian  Territor}",  southward  to  northern  Alabama, 
Mississippi,  and  Texas,  reaching  its  best  deveh:)pment  in  southern 
Indiana  and  Illinois.  It  has  been  naturalized  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghany mountains,  growing  iti  moist  fertile  soil,  or  less  commonly 
on  dry  gravelly  hills. 

The  honey  locust  is  scarcely  known  as  a  forest  tree  in  North 
Corolina.  Specimens  of  it,  however,  are  found  comm.only  on  farms 
and  along  fences  in  the  Piedii.ont  plateau,  and  sparingly  in  the 
other  sections. 

It  bears  some  seed  every  year  and  a  large  amount  every  third 
year.  Seedlings,  which  are  frequently  found  on  dry  ground  under 
old  trees,  grow  very  rapidly.  Sprouts  are  common  about  young 
specimens  and   appear  quickly  around  the  stumps  of  felled  trees. 

The  leaves  consist  of  numerous  small,  oblong,  rr^motely  toothed 
leaflets,  and  are  sometimes  doubly  pinnate.  The  inconspicuous 
greenish  flowers  are  in  small  spikes,  and  the  fruit  is  a  dark  brown 
pod,  often  10  to  18  inches  in  length.  The  minute  winter-buds 
occur  three  or  tour  together.  ^^ery  sharp  and  rigid  three-iorked 
or  simple  spines,  3  to  4  inches  long,  and  bright  chestnut-brown  in 
color,  are  very  plentiful  on  some  individuals  and  nearly  or  quite 
wanting  in  others.      The  honey  locust   Iihs  long  superficial  roots. 

The  wood  is  hard,  strong,  coarse-grained,  and  very  durable  in 
contact  with  the  ground  ;  red  or  bright  red  brown  in  color;  the 
sapwood,  of  1(»  to  12  layers  of  annual  growth,  thin  and  pale.  It 
is  largely  used  for  fencing,  for  the  hubs  of  wheels,  and  somewhat 
in  construction. 

Cercis  canadensis,  Linnaeus. 

(REDBUD.        JUDAS    TREE.) 

A  small  tree,  with  a  short  trunk,  bright  red-brown  furrowed 
bark,  and  smooth  light  brown  or  gray  branches,  reaching  a  height 
of  50  feet  and  a  diameter  of  12  inches. 

It  is  found  from  New  Jersey  to  Florida,  Alabama  and  Missis- 
sippi, Indian  Territory,  Louisiana  and  Texas,  growitig  on  the  bor- 


58  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLIXA. 

ders  of  swamps  and  in  rich  bottom  lands;  and  it  reaches  its  best 
development  in  southern  Arkansas,  Indian  Territory,  and  eastern 
Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  15  to  25  feet, 
it  occurs  in  the  coastal  plain  and  Piedmont  plateau  regions. 

The  dark  green  glossy  leaves  are  broadly  ovate,  pointed  at  the 
apex,  and  truncate  or  heart-shaped  at  the  base.  The  conspicuous 
bright  purplish-red  flowers  are  in  clusters  along  the  branches,  and 
appear  before  or  with  the  leaves  in  early  spring.  The  fruit  is  an 
oblong  compressed  many-seeded  pod,  from  2j  to  3j  inches  long. 
The  winter-buds  are  blunt  and  chestnut-brown  in  color. 

The  wood  is  rather  coarse-grained,  heavy,  hard,  and  not  very 
strong.  Its  color  is  a  rich  dark  brown,  tinged  with  red  ;  the  thin 
sapwood  lighter. 

Prunus  pennsylvanica,  Linnteus. 

(wild    red    cherry.        fire    cherry.        BIRD    CHERRY. 
PERUVIAN.) 

A  small  tree,  with  slender  branches,  a  narrow  head  and  smooth 
reddish-brown,  or  in  old  trees,  dark  red-brown  scaly  bark.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  30  to  40  feet  and  a  diameter  of  12  to  IS 
inches  ;   but  at  its  northern  and  western  limits  it  is  a  low  shrub. 

It  occurs  from  Newfoundland  to  British  Columbia,  south 
through  the  northern  states  to  Pennsylvania,  Michigan,  Illinois, 
and  Iowa,  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  mountains  in  Col- 
orado, and  along  the  Alleghany  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and 
Tennessee;  and  reaches  its  best  development  on  moist,  rather  rich 
soil,  in  the  Big  Smoky  mountains  of  Tennessee.  It  often  takes 
possession  of  ground  which  has  been  cleared  by  Are. 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  confined  to  damp  situations  on  the  slopes 
of  high  mountains,  above  an  elevation  of  3,500  feet.     (Fig  8,  p.  59) 

It  bears  seed  in  great  abundance,  and  usually  every  year.  After 
spruce  or  Carolina  balsam,  or  sometimes  beech  and  maple  forests, 
have  been  burned,  a  growth  of  fire  cherry  often  springs  up,  but 
it  is  apt  to  be  replaced  by  the  original  growth  in  about  forty 
years,  which  is  the  average  length  of  life  for  this  tree. 

The   oblong,  sharply  pointed  leaves  are  finely  toothed,  shining 


N,    C.    GEOLOGICAL    SIRVEY. 


BULLETIN  6.     PLATE  V. 


A    GROUP    OF    WILD    CHERRY    TREES 


WILD    BLACK    CHERRY. 


59 


green  and  smooth  on  both  sides.  The  white  flowers  appear  late 
in  the  spring  in  numerous  clusters,  and  the  fruit  is  small,  round 
and  bright  red. 

The  light,  soft,  close-grained  compact  wood  is  light  brown  in 
color  ;   the  sapwood  a  clear  yellow. 

Prunus  serotina,  Ehrhardt. 
(wild  black  cherry.) 

A  tree  of  the  first  commercial  importance,  with  small  horizontal 
branches  and  dark  red-brown  scaly  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  100 
feet  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet.     (Plate  Y.) 

It  occurs  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Tampa  Bay  in  Florida,  and  west- 
ward to  the  Missouri  river  in  Dakota,  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kan- 
sas, Indian  Territory  and  Texas,  and  is  found  also  in  southern  New 
Mexico  and  Arizona,  and  in  parts  of  Mexico,  Central  and  South 
America.  It  rtaches  its  best  devolopment  on  the  high  slopes  of 
the  Alleghany  mountains.  It  was  once  common  in  all  the  Appa- 
lachian region,  growing  with  the  white  oak,  the  white  ash,  the 
green  ash,  the  sugar  maple,  the  yellow  buckeye,  the  hickories  and 
the  black  birch. 


MAP  OF 

NORTH    CAROLINA 


LEGEND 
Area  in  which  the  WILD  BLACK  CHERRY' 
I        I       occurs  as  a  small  tree  of  httle  commercial 
p=]       importance  (Prunus  serotina,  Ehrh) 

^^  Area  in  which  the  WILD  BLACK  CHERRY 
PffljH      occurs  as  a  large  tree  of  the  first  economic 
BffiH      importance. 
rTTj:^  Distribution  of  the  WILD  RED  CHERRY 


(Prunus  pennsylvanica,  L.) 


In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  60  to  80  and 
a  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  it  occurs  through  all  parts  of  the  State, 
but  is  less  common  in  the  coastal  plain,  where  the  soil  and  climate 
are  not  so  favorable  to  its  growth.  It  reaches  its  best  dimensions> 
on  the  rich  cool  slopes  of  the  mountains.     (Fig.  8.) 


•60  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

Forest  trees  bear  fruit  abnndantl}'  about  every  third  or  fourth 
year;  trees  growing  in  the  open  more  frequently.  Seedlings  are 
<?onimon  in  moist,  rather  open  situations.  In  the  higher  moun- 
tains, where  only  it  grows  large  enough  to  be  of  economic  impor- 
tance, trees  over  three  feet  in  diameter  are  apt  to  be  hollow  or  red- 
hearted.  Old  trees  are  often  shaky.  After  lumbering,  the  black 
cherry  is  frequently  followed  by  birch,  asii,  spruce,  and  maple. 

Clisiocampa  americana,  Stretch,  the  tent  caterpillar,  destroys 
the  young  trees  by  denuding  them  of  their  foliage. 

The  leaves  are  oblong,  smooth,  taper-pointed,  and  iinely-serrate 
with  short  incurved  teeth.  The  flowers  appear  in  late  spring  in 
long,  slender,  drooping  racemes  ;  and  the  fruit  is  bitter,  nearly 
black  when  ripe,  and  from  3  to  i  inch  in  diameter.  The  blunt 
or  pointed  winter-buds  are  bright  chestnut-brown. 

The  wood  is  light,  strong,  rather  hard,  with  a  close  straight 
grain  ;  light  brown  or  red  in  color  ;  the  thin  sapwood,  of  10  or  12 
layers  of  annual  growth,  yellow.  It  takes  a  beautiful  polish,  and 
no  other  North  American  wood  is  more  suitable  for  cabinet-mak- 
ing and-  fine  interior  finish.  The  largest  and  best  trees  in  all  parts 
•of  the  country  have  already  been  cut.  The  bark  yields  tonics  and 
sedatives. 

There  are  only  a  few  bodies  of  fine  trees  still  standing  in  west- 
ern North  Carolina.  They  are  situated  principally  in  Mitchell, 
Yancey,  Swain  and  Macon  counties. 

Amelanchier  canadensis,  Medicus 

(service    tree.        shad    bush.        wild    CURRANT.) 

A  small  tree,  with  a  tall  trunk,  sm^.11  spreading  branches,  and 
pale  red-brown  scaly  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  .50  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  IS  inches. 

It  occurs  from  Newfoundland  along  the  shores  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  southward  to  northern  Florida,  and  westward  to  Minnesota, 
eastern  Nebraska,  eastern  Kansas,  Louisiana,  and  southern  Arkan- 
sas; reaching  its  best  development  in  the  mountains  of  North 
Carolina  and  Tennessee. 

In  the  coastal  plain  region  of  North  (yarolina  it  is  hardly  more 
than  a  shrub,  and  is  known  as  wild  currant.     It  reaches  its  largest 


SWEET    GUM.  61 

size  on  the  sliaded  slopes  of  tlie  mountains,  .where  it  is  called 
service   tree. 

About  every  third  year  this  tree  bears  fruit  in  large  quantities; 
during  intermediate  years,  sparingly  or  not  at  all.  Seedlings  are 
common  in  moist  and  shady  woods. 

The  leaves  are  small,  finely  toothed,  acute  at  the  apex  and 
rounded  or  heart-shaped  at  the  base.  The  white  flowers  appear 
in  drooping  racemes  in  early  spring.  The  sweet  edible  rounded 
fruit  is  dark  purple  when  ripe,  and  from  3  to  2  inch  in  diameter. 
The  pale  chestnut-brown  pointed  winter-buds,  1  inch  long,  are 
covered  with  slightly  hairy  scales.  Theservice  tree  has  numerous 
superficial  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  lieavy,  exceedingly  liard,  strong  and  close-grained  ; 
dark  brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood,  of  40  to  50  layers  of 
annual  growth,  lighter.  It  takes  a  good  polish,  and  is  oc(;asionally 
used  for  the  handles  of  tools. 

In  North  Carolina  the  wood  has  few  uses  ;  large  numbers  of 
trees,  however,  are  cut  every  year  for  the  fruit. 

Liquidambar  styraciflua,  Linnajus. 
(sweet  gum.     red  gum.) 

A  large  tree,  with  straight  cylindrical  trunk,  dark  deeply  fur- 
rowed bark,  and  branches  often  winged  with  corky  ridges.  It 
reaches  a  height  of  140  and  a  diameter  of  5  to  6  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Connecticut  to  Missouri,  south  to  Central 
Florida  and  westward,  through  Arkansas  and  Indian  Territory, 
to  Texas,  reaching  its  best  development  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the 
Mississippi  basin.     It  is  common  in  low  wet  situations. 

In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  about  60 
and  an  average  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  it  is  common  in  moist  situ- 
ations from  the  coast  to  the  mountains.  (Fig.  9,  p.  62.)  West  of 
the  Blue  Ridge  it  is  sometimes  found  south  of  the  French  Broad 
river.  It  is  in  the  coastal  plain  that  it  attains  its  largest  dimen- 
sions, growing  frequenth'  in  deep  swamps  with  the  black  gum  and 
cypress,  to  a  diameter  of  5  or  6  feet  and  height  of  one  hundred 
feet. 


G2 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 


Sweet  guin  bears  fruit  annually  or  every  other  year,  but  much 
of  the  seed  is  abortive.  Youno;  seedlings  are  common  on  damp 
hillsides  and  bottom  lands  that  have  been    cleared,   they    are   also 


frequent  in  damp  pine  woods,  where,  however,  they  seldom  develop 
into  large  trees.  After  sweet  gum  has  been  cut  a  thick  growth 
of  the  same  species  usually  springs  up  together  with  yellow  pop- 
lar, white  oak  and  maple.  The  largest  specimens  are  frequently 
hollow  at  the  butt.      This  tree  sprouts  freely  from  the  stump. 

The  smooth  shining  leaves  are  deeply  5  to  7-cleft  with  sharp 
pointed  finely  tootlied  divisions.  The  inconspicuous  flowers  occur 
in  early  spring.  The  fruit  is  a  long  stalked,  globular,  dry,  rough 
head,  hanging  on  the  tree  through  the  winter.  The  acute  ovate 
winter-buds  are  dark  brown  in  color. 

The  sweet  gum  has  a  very  large  and  long  tap-root,  as  well  as 
long  superficial  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  not  strong,  rather  tough,  close-grained, 
and  liable  to  warp  and  shrink;  bright  brown  in  color;  the  sap- 
wood  nearly  white.  It  takes  a  good  polish  and  is  used  for  floor- 
ing, clapboards,  cabinet  work,  veneering,  barrels,  and  street 
paving.  The  balsamic  exudation  is  sometimes  employed  in  cases 
of  catarrh  and  as  an  ointment. 

Only  an  inconsiderable  quantity   has  been  sawed  in  the  State, 


DOGWOOD.        BLACK    GUM.  63 

but  it  is  now    being    largely    used    for  the  manufacture  of  crates 
baskets,  veneering,  barrels,  etc. 

Cornus   florida,    Linnauis. 
(dogwood,     flowering  dogwood,     boxwood.) 

A  small  tree,  with  flattened  spreading  top  and  rough  blackish 
bark,  reaching  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a  diameter  of  18  inches. 

It  is  common  in  rich  woods  from  southern  New  England  west  to 
southern  Ontario,  and  south  to  Florida  and  eastern  Texas. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  12  to  20 
feet,  it  occurs  throughout.  In  the  coastal  plain  it  forms  a  lower 
story  under  the  long-leaf  pine.  In  the  Piedmont  plateau  and 
mountain  region  it  grows  under  oaks,  hickories  and  yellow  poplar. 

Dogwood  generally  bears  fruit  abundantly  every  year,  and 
young  seedlings  are  common  in  open  woods,  .and  in  mixed  coppice 
woods  on  moist  soil.  When  once  started  it  bears  a  deep  shade. 
The  acute  ovate  leaves  are  opposite  and  often  somewhat  clustered 
toward  the  ends  of  the  branchlets.  The  flowers  occur  in  a  head 
surrounded  by  4  white  bracts,  which  make  the  cluster  appear  like 
a  single  large  flower,  and  the  bright  red  oval  fruit  grows  in 
bunches.  The  awl-shai)ed  leaf-buds,  as  well  as  the  twigs,  are  pur- 
plish and  covered  with  a  whitish  bloom.  The  rounded  flattened 
grayish-brown  flower-buds  replace  the  terminal  buds  on  the 
fertile  branches.     The  dogwood   has  numerous  long  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  hard,  heavy,  strong,  close-grained,  and  tough  ;  brown 
in  color  ;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  takes  a  beautiful  polish,  and  is 
extensively  used  for  turnery,  wood  engraving,  the  bearings  of 
machinery,  the  hubs  of  wheels,  barrel  hoops,  shuttles,  spindles, 
etc.     The  bark  yields  a  tonic. 

Large  quantities  have  been  cut  in  the  eastern  and  central  sec- 
tions of  the  State,  along  the  railroads,  and  manufactured  into 
spindle,  shuttle,  and  shoe-last  blocks,  but  the  supply  lias  by  no 
means  been  exhausted. 

Nyssa  sylvatica,  Marshall. 
(black  gum.     sour  gum.) 
A  large  tree,  with  horizontal  branches  and  short  spur-like  lateral 


64 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


branclilets,  reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet. 
The  bark  is  deeply  cut,  light  brown,  often  tinged -with  red,  or,  as 
in  some  large  specimens  in  the  coastal  plain  region  of  this  State, 
scaly  or  nearly  smooth,  dark  brown  or  black. 

It  occnrs  from  Maine  and  Vermont  to  central  Michigan,  and 
southward  to  Tampa   bay,  Florida,  and    the   Brazos    river,  Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  has  an  average  height  of  50  to  60 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  about  2  feet,  it  occurs  in  the 
swamps  and  wet  lands  of  the  coastal  plain  and  Piedmont  plateau, 


MAP  OF 

NORTH   CAKOLINA 


LEGEND 
I  Area   in   which   both   the   BLACK   GUM 
1     (Nyssa  sylvatica,  Marsh.)  and  the  TUPELO 
(N.  aquatioa,  Marsh.)  occur. 

j  Area  in  which  the  BLACK  GUM  occurs  but 
not  the  TUPELO. 


^ 

^> 

and  in  the  mountains  up  to  an  elevation  of  3,000  feet,  along  dry 
ridges  with  red  and  white  oaks  and  chestnut.  In  the  eastern 
sections,  with  the  sweet  gum  and  water  ash,  it  forms  a  large  part 
of  the  growth  of  the  deeper  swamps,  and  there  reaches  its  largest 
size  within  the  State.      (Fig.   10.) 

It  produces  seed  plentifully  once  in  two  or  three  years,  and 
young  seedlings  appear  in  moist  open  woods  and  on  cypress. lands 
after  lumbering.  Large  trees  are  apt  to  be  hollow  at  the  butt  and 
frequently  through  the  whole  stem.  The  black  gum  sprouts 
readily  from   the  stump. 

The  rather  thick  shining  leaves  are  oblong,  pointed  and 
usually  entire.  The  greenish  flowers,  which  appear  after  the 
leaves  in  spring,  are  inconspicuous,  and  the  bluish-black  oval 
fruit  is  about  J-inch  long.  The  dark  brown  conical  buds  are 
slightly  thicker  than  the  smooth  flexible  t\vigs.  The  black  gum 
has  deeply  seated  lateral  and  numerous  superficial  roots. 


TUPELO    GUM.  65 

The  wood  is  heavy,  strong,  soft,  very  tough,  and  hard  to  split 
and  work,  inclined  to  check,  and  not  durable  in  contact  with  the 
soil  ;  light  yellow  or  nearly  white  in  color  ;  the  thick  sapwood 
lighter,  often  hardly  distinguishable.  It  is  used  for  the  hubs  of 
wheels,  rollers  in  glass  factories,  ox  yokes,  and  piles. 

Very  little  has  been  cut  in  tliis  State  for  lumber.  In  the  last 
few  years,  however,  it  has  been  coining  into  use  as  a  cheap  mate- 
rial for  boxes  and  trucking  barrels. 

Nyssa  aquatica,  Marshall. 

(TUPELO    GUM.) 

A  large  tree,  with  dark  brown,  deeply  furrowed,  or,  in  old  speci- 
mens, scaly,  smoothish  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a 
diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  southern  Virginia  to  Georgia,  through  the  Gulf 
states  to  Texas,  and  through  Arkansas  and  southern  Missouri  to 
Illinois  ;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the  cypress  swamps  of 
western  Louisiana  and  southeastern  Texas. 

In  this  State  it  is  confined  to  the  deep  swamps  of  the  coastal 
plain,  where  it  grows  with  cypress,  water  ash  and  black  gum, 
attaining  a  height  of  80  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet  above  the 
trumpet-shaped  base.     (Fig.  10,  p.  64.) 

Seed  years  are  frequent.  Young  trees  are  common  along  moistj 
deep  swamps,  in  open  woods,  and  in  spots  where  the  cypress  has 
been  removed.  The  large  swollen  butt,  8  to  15  feet  in  diameter, 
is  usually  hollow,  and  there  is  frequently  also  a  hollow  in  the  top 
of  the  stem,  where  a  branch  has  been  broken  ofi".  The  middle  of 
the  trunk  is  nearly  always  sound. 

The  leaves  are  larger  than  in  the  preceding  species,  dark  green 
and  smooth  above  and  somewhat  dowmy  below.  The  yellowish- 
green  flowers  appear  in  March  and  April.  The  oblong  fruit  is 
dark  purple  and  an  inch  or  more  in  length.  The  smooth  light 
brown  terminal  buds  are  nearly  round,  the  lateral  buds  minute. 
The  twigs  are  slightly  angular,  light  brown  and  smooth,  and  much 
thicker  than  those  of  the  black  gum.  There  are  numerous  lateral 
and  superficial  roots. 


66  TIMBER    TREES    OF    Is^ORTH     CAROLINA. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  close-grained,  compact, 
uuwedgeable,  and  light  brown  or  nearly  white  in  color.  It  is  nsed 
for  turning,  woodenware,  broonihandles,  and  wooden  shoes.  The 
roots  are  sometimes  used  as  a  substitute  for  cork  for  net  floats. 
The  wood  has  only  a  few  local  uses  in  North  Carolina. 

Oxydendron  arboreum,  De  Candolle. 

(SOURWOOD.         SORREL   TREE.) 

A  small  tree,  with  pendulous  branches  and  deeply  furrowed 
gray-brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  60  feet  and  a  diameter  of  20 
inches. 

It  grows  usually  in  rather  dry  soil,  and  occurs  from  western 
Pennsylvania  along  the  Alleghany  mountains  to  western  Florida 
and  Mobile  bay,  westward  to  middle  Tennessee,  and  through  the 
northern  portions  of  the  Gulf  states  to  western  Louisiana.  It 
attains  its  best  development  in  eastern  Tennessee. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  a  height  of  50  to  60  feet 
and  a  diameter  of  12  to  15  inches,  it  is  rare  (and  usually  a  shrub) 
in  the  coastal  plain,  not  uncommon  in  the  Piedmont  plateau,  and 
most  abundant  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  mountains.  It  reaches 
its  largest  size  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

The  sourwood  bears  seed  prolifically  and  for  the  most  part 
every  year.  Young  seedlings  are  usually  very  abundant,  espe- 
cially in  rather  dry  woods  wliich  have  been  thinned.  Sprouts 
grow  readily  from  the  stump,  but  do  not  attain  a  very  large  size. 
Trees  over  10  inches  in  diameter  are  usually  hollow. 

The  small  rounded  fruit  is  in  large  loose  clusters.  The  oblong 
pointed  leaves  are  acid,  whence  the  name.  The  flowers  and  fruit 
occur  in  loose  drooping  panicles,  7  to  8  inches  long.  The  red  win- 
ter-buds are  very  small,  and  the  flexible  twigs  are  mahogany-red 
in  color.  The  sourwood  has  numerous  lateral  roots.  This  tree 
is  especially  prized  on  account  of  the  delicious  transparent  honey 
made  from  the  flowers. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  very  close-grained,  compact,  brown 
in  color;    the    sapwood  somewhat  lighter.     It  takes  a   beautiful 


LAUREL.        IVY.  67 

polish,  and  is  used  for  the  handles  of   tools,    bearings    of   machin- 
ery, etc. 

Kalmia  latifolia,  Linn?eus. 

(laurel,      ivy.      wicky.) 

A  small  evergreen  tree,  with  short  crooked  branches,  and  dark 
reddish-brown  furrowed  bark,  the  narrow  ridges  separating  into 
long  scales.  It  reaches  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a  diameter  of  20 
inches. 

It  occurs  in  rich  woodlands  from  New  Brunswick  and  Lake 
Erie  to  western  Florida,  and  through  the  Gulf  states  to  western 
Louisiana  and  the  valley  of  the  Red  river,  Arkansas  ;  reaching  its 
best  development  in  the  southern  Alleghany  mountains,  where  it 
often  forms  dense  impenetrable  thickets. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  10  to  15 
feet,  it  is  most  abundant  in  the  mountains,  but  occurs  in  the  Pied- 
mont plateau,  and  extends  into  the  coastal  plain  region. 

The  laurel  bears  seed  every  year,  and  for  the  most  part  in 
abundance.  Young  seedlings,  in  all  stages  of  growth,  are  com- 
mon in  moist  open  places  in  the  mountain  region,  and  above  3,000 
feet  on  rather  dry  soil.  The  fires  which  are  frequent  on  these  dry 
ridges  are  very  destructive  to  both  young  and  old  plants,  but  the 
laurel  sprouts  so  freely  from  the  stump  that  it  often  takes  exclu- 
sive possession  of  areas  subject  to  repeated  fires. 

The  evergreen  leaves  are  thick,  smooth,  entire,  acute  at  the 
apex  and  contracted  at  the  base.  The  white  or  pink  flowers  are 
produced  in  conspicuous  clusters  at  the  ends  of  the  branches,  and 
the  rounded  fruit  set  with  sticky  hairs  is  ripe  in  September.  The 
winter-buds  are  small,  oblong,  and  greenish.  The  roots  consist  of 
many  large  knots  and  burls,  from  which  strong  lateral  roots 
diverge. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  brittle,  close-grained,  and  com- 
pact, brown  in  color ;  the  sapwood  somewhat  lighter,  and  the 
broad  medullary  rays  darker.  It  takes  a  good  polish,  and  is  used 
for  the  handles  of  tools,  in  turnery,  and  for  fuel.  The  leaves, 
from  which  an  ointment  is  made,  are  supposed  to  be  poisonous  to 
cattle.     The  root-burls,  sometimes  called  ivy  grubs,  are  used  in 


68  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLI>^A. 

turnery.     Large  quantities  are  taken  out  at  Cranberry,  Elk  Park, 
and  many  other  places  in  the  mountain  counties. 

Rhododendron  maximum,  Lianeeus. 
(rhododendron,     laurel.) 

A  small  tree,,  with  spreading  top  and  grayish-brown  scaly  bark, 
reaching  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a  diameter  rarely  exceeding 
twelve  inches;   or  more  frequently  a  tall  straggling  shrub. 

It  occurs  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Lake  Erie  south  through  Kew 
England,  New  York,  and  along  the  Alleghanies  to  northern 
Georgia ;  reaching  its  best  development  on  the  steep  rocky  banks 
of  streams  in  the  southern  Alleghany  mountains.  It  is  never 
found  on  limestone  soils. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  8  to 
12  feet,  it  is  very  common  in  the  mountains,  often  forming 
impenetrable  thickets,  and  occurs  in  ravines  in  the  Piedmont 
counties  as  far  east  as  Surry  and  Gaston. 

Khododendron  usually  produces  seed  every  year,  and  young 
seedlings  are  common  in  moist  open  spots.  Numerous  sprouts 
appear  around  old  trunks  and  around  the  stumps  after  cutting. 
Several  stems  generally  grow  from  the  same  burly  roots. 

The  thick  leathery  evergreen  leaves  are  acute  at  the  apex  and 
narrowed  toward  the  base.  The  flowers  are  pale  rose-color  or 
white,  dotted  with  yellowish-green  spots,  and  are  produced  in 
large  compact  clusters  at  the  ends  of  the  branchlets.  The  dark 
red-brown  fruit  is  a  dry  capsule,  half  an  inch  long,  and  encloses 
many  seeds.      The  buds  are  large,  scaly  and  conical. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  brittle,  close-grained,  com- 
pact, light  clear  brown  in  color ;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is 
occasionally  employed  in  turnery,  for  tool  handles,  etc.  A  decoc- 
tion of  the  leaves  is  used  for  rheumatism,  sciatica,  etc. 

Diospyros  virginiana,  Linnyeus. 

(persimmon.) 

A  small  tree,  with  slender  branches  forming  a  rounded  top  and 
rough,  dark  brown,  gray  or  black  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  115 
and  a  diameter  of  2  feet. 


PERSIMMON. 


69 


It  occurs  commonly  in  old  fields  from  southern  Connecticut  to 
southern  Ohio  and  southeastern  Iowa,  south  to  Bay  Biscayne, 
Florida,  southern  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  and  west  to  southern 
Missouri^  Arkansas,  eastern  Kansas  and  Indian  Territory,  and 
the  valley  of  the  Colorado  river,  Texas  ;  and  reaches  its  best 
development  in  the  lower  Ohio  basin. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  30  to  40 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  18  to  20  inches,  it  is  found 
throughout,  except  in  Ashe,  Watauga,  Mitchell,  and  Yancey 
counties  and  in  the  higher  mountains.     (Fig.  11.) 


MAP  OF 

NORTH   CAKOLINA 


LEGEND 

Distribution    of  the  PERSIMMON 

(Diospyros  virginiana,  L.) 


Fertile  trees  bear  fruit  in  abundance  annually  or  every  second 
year.  Seedlings  are  common  near  the  old  trees  in  damp  soil,  and 
in  old  fields  when  protected  from  fire.  Young  plants  are  short- 
lived in  deep  shade. 

The  rather  thick  smooth  shining  leaves  are  oval,  dark  green 
above,  pale  and  often  downy  below.  The  yellowish  flowers  are 
small  and  inconspicuous,  the  male  and  female  usually  produced 
on  separate  trees.  The  edible  fruit  is  rounded,  about  one  inch  in 
diameter,  and  orange-red  when  ripe.  The  winter-buds  are  small, 
egg-shaped  and  pointed.  The  persimmon  has  thick  fleshy  black 
stoloniferous  roots ;  it  has  a  taproot  as  well  as  numerous  long 
lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  very  close-grained,  compact ; 
the  heart  wood,  seen  only  in  very  old  specimens,  dark  brown  to 
nearly  black  in  color  ;  the  thick  sapwood  lighter  brown  with  dark 
spots.     It   takes  a  good  polish,  and  is   used  for   shoe-lasts,  plane 


70  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

stocks,  shuttles,  large  screws,  mallets  and  the  shafts  of  wagons.  A 
decoction  for  diarrhoea,  hemorrhage,  etc.,  is  made  from  the  fruit, 
from  which  persimmon  beer  is  also  produced. 

Large  quantities  have  been  cut  in  North  Carolina  near  the  rail- 
roads. 

Mohrodendron   carolinum,  Britton.* 

(snowdrop  tree,     silverbell  tree.) 

A  tree  of  medium  or  small  size,  with  reddish-brown,  broadly 
ridged  bark,  and  bright  biown  smooth  branches  striped  with  pale 
shallow  longitudinal  iissures,  sometimes  reaching  a  height  of  90 
and  a  diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  commonly  in  rich  soil  along  streams  from  the  moun- 
tains of  West  Virginia  to  southern  Illinois,  southward  to  middle 
Florida,  central  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  andgthrough  Arkansas 
to  western  Louisiana  and  eastern  Texas;  reaching  its  best  devel- 
opment in  the  southern  Alleghany  mountains. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  15  to  25 
feet,  it  is  found  in  the  Piedmiont  plateau  as  far  east  as  Surry  and 
Mecklenburg,  and  thence  westward  it  is  not  uncommon,  especially 
along  the  upper  portions  of  the  water  courses. 

The  silverbell  tree  produces  seed  every  two  or  three  years 
and  young  plants  are  common  in  damp  shady  woods.  Specimens 
over  one  foot  in  diameter  are  apt  to  be  hollow. 

The  thin  leaves  are  finely  serrate,  light  green  above,  pale, 
and  slightly  downy  below.  The  flowers,  which  appear  with 
the  leaves  in  spring,  are  white,  bell-shaped,  and  are  borne  by 
slender  drooping  stems.  The  large  dry  fruit,  about  1?  inches 
long,  has  four  wings  and  contains  a  bony  nut.  The  hairy  winter- 
buds  are  small,  obtuse,  and  dark  red  or  light  brown. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  close-grained,  compact,  light  brown 
in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.      It  has  no  uses  in  North  Carolina. 

Fraxinus   americana,    Liniuisus. 
(white  ash.) 
A  large  tree  of  the  first  commercial  value,  with   stout,  upright 

*Halesia  tetraptera,  Linnaeus. 


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WHITE    ASH. 


71 


or  spreading  branches  and  grayish  furrowed  bark,  reaching  a 
height  of  120  and  a  diameter  of  6  feet.      (Plate  VI.) 

It  grows  in  low,  ratlier  moist  soil,  from  Nova  Scotia  to  northern 
Minnesota,  southward  to  northern  Florida,  central  Alabama  and 
Mississippi,  and  west  to  eastern  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Indian  Terri- 
tory, and  eastern  Texas  ;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the 
basin  of  the  Ohio  river. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of 
50  to  80  and  a  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  it  occurs  throughout  the 
State.     (Fig.  12.) 


MAP   OF 

NORTH    CAItOLrNA 


LKGENB 
Distribution  of  the  WHrPE  ASH 
(Fi-axinus  -americana,  L.) 

Western  limits  of  the  WATER  ASH 
(Fraxinus  caroliniana,  Mill.) 


The  white  ash  produces  seed  abundantly  about  every  3  or 
4  years,  though  individual  trees  along  streams,  or  when  isolated, 
bear  more  frequently.  The  young  seedlings,  which  are  not  com- 
mon, stand  shade  well,  and  are  usually  found  in  moist  situations, 
often  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  parent  tree.  Large 
trees  are  usually  sound,  but  somstimes  have  large  heart-cracks. 
In  the  mountains  a  mixed  growth  of  oaks,  lin,  and  buckeye 
replace  the  white  ash  after  lumbering.  The  timber  is  attacked 
while  still  standing,  especially  when  growing  in  swamps,  by 
Fatua  denudata,  Harris,  the  ash  sesia. 

*The  leaves  are  composed  of  5  to  9,  usually  7,  stalked  leaflets. 
The  inconspicuous  flowers  appear  before  the  leaves  in  spring,  the 
male  and  female  on  separate  trees,  and  the  narrow-winged  fruit 
is  U  to  2  inches  long.      The  rust-colored  winter-buds  are   covered 


72  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

with  short  hairs.  The  ash  has  numerous  deep-seated  lateral 
roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  coarse-grained,  tough,  becom- 
ing brittle  with  age  ;  the  heartwood  brown  ;  the  sapwood  nearly 
white.  It  is  extensively  used  tor  agricultural  implements,  wagon- 
making,  handles,  oars,  cabinet  and  interior  work,  and  by  ship- 
wrights, turners,  and  coopers. 

Large  quantities  have  been  sawed  in  the  mountains  of  this 
State,  chiefly  for  lumber  and  furniture.  Asheville,  Dillsboro,  and 
Elk  Park  are  important  centres  for  the  manufacture  of  ash  lum- 
ber. In  1892  about  8,000,000  feet  was  sawed  in  the  mountain 
counties  and  shipped  mainly  to  Cincinnati  and  Philadelphia. 
About  as  much  more  was  manufactured  during  the  same  year  in 
other  parts  of  the  State.  A  large  amount  of  white  ash  is  still 
standing  in  the  mountain  region  and  in  some  of  the  river 
swamps  of  the  eastern  counties. 

Fraxinus   pennsyvanica,  Marshall. 
(red  ash.      ash.) 

A  tree  of  medium  size,  with  stout,  upright  branches  and 
slightly  furrowed  dark  gray  or  deep  |brown  bark,  reaching  a 
height  of  60  feet  and  a  diameter  of  20  inches. 

It  occurs  in  rich  moist  ground  from  New  Brunswick  to  south- 
ern Ontario  and  northern  Minnesota,  and  southward  to  northern 
Florida  and  central  Alabama;  attaining  its  best  development  in 
the  northern  Atlantic  states.  It  is  rare  west  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  50  to  60  feet,  it  is 
confined  to  the  Piedmont  plateau. 

The  red  ash  produces  seed  about  as  often  as  the  white  ash, 
but  seedlings  are  less  common  and  confined  principally  to  the 
neighborhood  of  water  courses.  Numerous  sprouts  spring  up 
after  cutting,  but  do  not  develop  into  large  trees.  Birch,  white 
oak  and  red  maple  usually  form  the  growth  after  lumbering. 

The  leaflets  are  7  to  9  in  number,  obscurely  toothed,  narrowed 
at  the  apex  into  long,  slender   points,   lustrous    on   the  upper  sur- 


GREEN    ASH.       WATER    ASH.  73 

face,  and  downy  beneath  ;  the  leafstalks  also  covered  with  a  silky 
down.  The  male  and  female  flowers  appear  on  separate  trees 
late  in  spring,  and  the  narrow-winged  fruit  is  like  that  of  the 
white  ash,  except  that  the  end  of  the  wing  is  usually  more 
rounded.  The  dark,  russet-brown  rounded  winter-bud  is  downy. 
The  red  ash  has  numerous  lateral   and  superficial  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  brittle,  close-grained  and  com- 
pact, rich  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  light  brown  streaked  with 
yellow.  It  is  used  for  paper  pulp  and  for  the  same  purposes  as 
that  of  the  white  ash,  to  which  it  is  inferior. 

Praxinus    pennsylvanica    var.    lanceolata,    Sirgent. 
(green   ash.     ash.) 

A  tree  of  medium  size,  with  slender,  spreading  branches  and 
gray  or  dark  brown  l)ark,  rarely  exceeding  60  feet  in  height  and 
24  inches  in  diameter. 

It  occurs  in  low,  rather  moist  soil,  from  Yermont  to  northern 
Florida,  westward  to  the  valley  of  tiie  Saskatchewan  river  and 
the  Rocky  mountains  of  Montana,  thfi  Wasatch  mountains  of 
Utah  and  the  eastern  and  northern  ranges  of  Arizona.  It  is  most 
abundant  in  the  Mississippi  basin. 

It  is  not  a  common  tree  in  North  Carolina,  and  is  confined  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  coastal  plain  and  to  the  Piedmont  plateau, 
where  it  reaches  a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  2  feet. 

The  leaflets  are  smooth  and  bright  green  on  both  sides,  and 
narrower,  shorter,  and  often  more  sharply  toothed  than  those  of 
the  red  ash.  In  the  West  the  species  and  variety  are  connected 
by  many  intermediate  forms.  East  of  the  Mississippi  river  the 
trees  are  quite  distinct. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  brittle,  rather  coarse-grained; 
brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  inferior  in 
quality  to  the  wood  of  the  white  ash,  but  in  this  State  is  not  dis- 
tinguished from  it  commercially. 

Fraxinus  carolLniana,  Miller. 
(water  ash.) 
A  small  tree, "with  slender  branches  which  form   a  narrow  top, 


74  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

and  liglit  gray  furrowed  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  40  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  12  inches. 

It  occurs  in  deep  river  swamps  from  southeastern  Virginia  near 
the  coast  to  Florida,  w^estward  through  the  Gulf  states  to  the 
valley  of  the  Sabine  river,  Texas,  and  southwestern  Arkansas.  It 
is  also  found  in  Cuba. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  30  to 
40  feet,  it  is  confined  to  the  deep  swamps  of  the  coastal  plain 
region.     (Fig.  12,  p.  71.) 

It  bears  seed  abundantly  every  year  or  two.  Trees  in  deep 
swamps  have  swollen  butts  which  are  usually  hollow,  but  as  a 
general  rule  the  upper  part  of  the  stem  is  sound. 

The  leaves  are  composed  of  from  5  to  7  largre,  long-stalked  leaf- 
lets. The  male  and  female  flowers  appear  in  February  and 
March  upon  separate  trees.  In  the  fruit  the  wings  extend  to  the 
bottom  of  the  seed,  and  are  sometimes  three  in  number.  The 
winter-buds  are  chestnut-brown  in  color.  The  water  ash  has 
numerous    deeply  seated  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  brittle,  close-grained,  and 
compact  ;  the  heartwood  nearly  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  yel- 
low ;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  of  less  vahie  than  that  of  many 
of  the  other  ashes. 

In  the  eastern  section  of  North  Carolina  it  is  largely  manufac- 
tured into  lumber.  The  best  logs  are  usually  sawed  into  furni- 
ture squares. 

Persea    borbonia,     Spiengel. 

(red  bay.      sweet  bay.) 

An  evergreen  tree,  with  dark  brown-green  branches  and  deeply 
furrowed  reddish  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  70  and  a  diameter  of 
3  feet. 

It  occurs  in  low  rich  soil  from  southern  Delaware  south  to  Bay 
Biscayne  and  Cape  Romano,  Florida,  and  through  the  Gnlf  states 
to  southern  Arkansas  and  the  valley  of  the  Brazos  river,  Texas, 
near  the  coast. 


SASSAFRAS.  75 

In  this  State  it  is  a  small  tree  or  shnib,  and  occnrs  in  the  coastal 
plain  region.  Old  trees  over  8  inches  in  diameter  are  frequently 
hollow. 

The  oblong  entire  evergreen  leaves  are  2  to  3  inches  long  and, 
like  the  twigs,  have  an  aromatic  odor  when  bruised.  The  flowers 
are  small  and  in  close  panicles,  and  the  fruit  is  an  ovate  1-seeded 
deep  blue  drupe.  The  small  dark  brown  winter-buds  and  dark 
twigs  are  downy.     The  red  bay  has  a  lateral  root  system. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  very  strong,  brittle,  very  close-grained, 
and  compact;  bright  red  in  color;  the  sapwood  much  lighter.  It 
takes  a  beautiful  polish,  and  was  formerly  somewhat  used  in  ship- 
building, interior  finish  and  cabinet  work. 

Sassafras    sassafras,  Karsten. 

(SASSAFBAS.) 

A  large  tree,  with  green  or  yellowish-green  branchlets  and  fur- 
rowed gray  bark.  It  sometimes  reaches  a  height  of  90  and  a  diam- 
eter of  7  feet,  but  is  reduced  to  a  shrub  at  its  northern  limit. 

It  occurs  from  eastern  Massachusetts  and  southwestern  Ver- 
mont, west  through  southern  Ontario  and  central  Michigan,  to 
southeastern  Iowa,  eastern  Kansas,  and  Indian  Territory,  and 
south  to  middle  Florida  and  the  valley  of  the  Brazos  river,  Texas  ; 
reaching  its  best  development  in  southwestern  Arkansas  and 
Indian   Territory. 

In  this  State,  where  it  rarely  exceeds  40  to  50  feet  in  height,  it 
is  most  common  in  the  coastal  plain  and  Piedmont  plateau  regions, 
and  rare  on  the  higher  slopes  of  the  mountains. 

Seed  is  produced  at  frequent  intervals,  and  young  seedlings  are 
common  in  old  fields  when  protected  from  fire.  Sprouts  spring 
readily  from  the  stumps  of  young  trees  and  from  the  spreading 
roots,  and  in  many  cases  become  large  trees. 

The  leaves  are  very  variable,  being  ovate  and  entire,  or  2  to 
3-Jobed.  The  greenish-yellow  clustered  flowers  appear  in  early 
spring,  the  sterile  and  fertile  on  separate  trees,  and  the  oval  fruit 
is  blue  in  color,  with  a  thick  reddish  stem.  The  egg-shaped  win- 
ter-buds are  large. 


76  TIMBER    TREES    OF      NORTH    CAROLINA. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  weak,  brittle  and  coarse-grained,  very 
durable  in  contact  with  the  soil,  and  apt  to  check  in  drying.  It 
is  slightly  aromatic.  The  heartwood  is  dull  orange-brown  in  color; 
the  tl'iin  sapwood  light  yellow.  It  is  used  in  boat  building,  fenc- 
ing, cooperage,  and  for  ox  yokes.  An  aromatic  stimulant  is 
derived  from  the  bark  of  the  r<»ot. 

Ulmus   americana,   Linnaeus. 

(AMERICAN    ELM.) 

A  large  tree,  with  short  spreading  or  long  pendulous  branches 
and  scaly  dark  brown  trunk,  reaching  a  height  of  120  and  a  diam- 
eter of  11  feet. 

It  occurs  in  rich  moist  soil  from  southern  Newfonndland  to 
the  northern  shores  of  Lake  Superior  and  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Rocky  mountains,  south  to  Florida,  and  west  to  Dakota,  central 
Nebraska,  Indian  Territory,  and  Texas  ;  reaching  its  best  develop- 
ment in  the  northeastern  United  States. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  60  to  70  and 
diameter  of  4  to  5  feet,  it  occurs  abundantly  in  most  of  the  swamps 


LEGEND 

j  Distribution  of  the  AMERICAN  ELM 
j  (Ulmus  americana.  Z..) 


of  the  coastal  plain  and  extends  westward  as  far  as  Guilford 
and  Mecklenburg  counties.  (Fig.  13.)  It  is  smaller  and  much 
less  common  toward  its  western  limit. 


WINGED    ELM.  7T 

Seed  is  borne  o;enerally  every  year  in  abundance,  and  younj:^ 
plants  are  common  in  damp  open  places.  The  Americar)  elm  does 
not  sprout  readily  from  the  stump. 

A  larva  of  a  longicorn  beetle,  Saperda  tridentata,  Oliver,  loosens 
the  inner  bark  and  channels  the  surface  of  the  wood  so  as  fre- 
quently to  kill  the  tree.  The  American  elm  also  suffers  severely 
from  canker-worms,  Paleacrita  vernata.  Peck,  and  Eugonia  sub- 
signaria,  Huebner,  and  the  imported  elm-leaf  beetle,  Galeruca 
scanthomelasna,  Schrank,  all  of  which  feed  upon  and  destroy  the 
foliage. 

The  leaves  are  usually  smaller  and  less  rough  than  those  of  the 
slippery  elm.  The  small  greenish-brown  flowers  are  in  numerous 
lateral  clusters  and  appear  early  in  spring.  The  flattened  oval 
winged  fruit  is  hairy  on  the  margin,  and  ripens  and  falls  before 
the  leaves  appear.  The  buds  are  smooth,  rather  small  and 
acnte.  The  American  elm  has  long,  well  developed  lateral 
roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  tough,  rather  coarse-grained, 
compact,  and  difficult  to  split ;  the  heartwood  light  brown  ;  the 
sapwood  lighter.  It  is  used  for  wheel  stocks,  saddle-trees,  flooring,, 
and  cooperage,  find  is  exported  for  boat  a'nd  ship-building. 

In  North  Carolina  the  wood  of  this  tree  is  not  much  used,  and 
very  little  of  it  has  ever  been  cut. 

Ulmus  alata,  Michaux. 
(winged  elm.     wahoo.     cork  elm.     southern  elm.) 

A  small  tree,  with  slender  branches  and  close  finely  ridged 
light  brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  50  and  a  diameter  of  2- 
feet. 

It  occurs  on  dry  gravelly  or  often  on  moist  soil  from  southern 
Virginia,  through  the  middle  districts  to  western  Florida,  south- 
ern Indiana  and  Illinois,  south  to  the  Gulf  coast,  and  southwest 
through  southern  Missouri,  Arkansas,  and  the  eastern  portion  of 
Indian  Territory  and  Texas ;  reaching  its  best  development  in 
southern  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 


78 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


In  this  State,  wliere  it  reaches  an  average  height  uf  30  to  45 
feet,  it  grows  along  swamps  and  streams,  and  is  nowhere  uncommon 
■except  on  the  mountains.     (Fig.  14.) 


The  winged  elm  bears  seed  abundant!}^  at  intervals  of  2  or  3 
years,  and  young  plants  are  frequent  along  streams  or  swamp 
land. 

The  leaves  are  smaller  than  those  of  the  American  elm  and  the 
brown  twigs  more  slender.  The  small  clustered  flowers  are  on 
slender  foot-stalks,  and  the  oval  winged  fruit  is  deeply  notched, 
and  hairy  on  the  margin.  There  are  numerous  long  superficial 
lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  not  strong,  very  close-grained,  com- 
pact, unwedgeable;  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is 
used  for  hubs,  blocks,  and  tool  handles. 

Ulmus  fulva,  Michaux. 

(slippery    elm.) 

A  tree,  with  deeply  furrowed  dark  brown  bark  and  dark  gray- 
brown  branches  which  form  a  broom-shaped  crown,  reaching  a 
height  of  135  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  in  rich  soil  from  the  valley  of  the  lower  St.  Lawrence 
river  to  northern  Dakota,  and  south  to  northern  Florida,  central 
Alabama  and  Mississippi,  and  the  valley  of  the  San  Antonio  river, 
Texas. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an   average  height  of  30  to  50 


KED    MULBERRY.  79 

feet  and  a  diameter  of  12  to  18  inches,  it  is  most  plentiful  in  the 
Piedmont  plateau,  less  so  among  the  mountains,  and  is  found 
occasionally  in  the  coastal  plain  region. 

The  slippery  elm  produces  seed  at  rather  irregular  intervals  of 
2  to  4  3'ears,  and  for  the  most  part  not  abundantly.  Young  seed- 
lings are  rare  except  in  damp,  somewhat  shaded  places  near  the 
parent  tree. 

The  thick  ovate  oblong  coarsely  toothed  leaves  are  very  rough 
on  the  upper  surface  and  downy  beneath.  The  flowers  occur  in 
lateral  clusters  on  short  foot-stalks,  and  the  flat-winged  fruit  is 
round,  but  not  fringed.  The  rounded  reddish-brown  winter-buds 
are  hairy.  The  slippery  elm  has  numerous  deeply  seated  lateral 
roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  very  close-grained,  compact, 
and  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil.  The  heartwood  is  dark 
brown  or  red  ;  the  sapwocd  lighter.  It  is  used  for  wheel-stock, 
fencing,  railroad  ties,  sills,  and  in  shipbuilding.  The  muci- 
laginous inner  bark  is  medicinal. 

Morus  rubra,  Linn;\2us. 
(red  mulberry.) 

A  tree,  with  dark  brown,  much-broken  bark  and  smooth  gray 
branches,  reaching  a  height  of  65  and  a  diameter  of  7  feet. 

It  is  found  generally  in  rich  soil  from  western  Massachusetts 
and  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  througli  southern  Ontario,  central 
Micliigan,  and  the  Black  Hills  of  Dakota,  eastern  Nebraska  and 
Kansas,  south  to  southern  Florida,  and  the  valley  of  the  Colorado 
river,  Texas;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the  basins  of  the 
lower  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  30  to  50 
and  an  average  diameter  of  1  to  2  feet,  it  is  found  throi>ghout, 
being  most  abundaiit  on  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  very  rare  in  the 
mountain  region. 


80  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

The  red  imilben-y  bears  large  quantities  of  seed  every  year  or 
every  other  year,  and  seedlings  are  found  on  moist  soil  tiirongh 
the  forests  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region.  Numerous  sprouts 
come  up  after  cutting. 

The  broad,  heart-shaped,  pointed  leaves  are  rough  above  and 
downy  below.  The  flowers  are  inconspicuous,  and  the  deep  red 
or  purple  fruit  is  sweet  and  edible,  with  an  agreeable,  slightly 
acid  taste.  Tlie  winter-buds  are  large,  reddish,  smooth  and 
conical. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  rather  tough,  coarse-grained, 
compact,  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  ?oil,  light  orange- 
yellow  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter. 

It  takes  a  good  polish,  and  is  largely  used  for  fencing, 
cooperage,  snaths,  and,  at  the  South,  for  ship  and  boatbuilding. 
The  leaves  have  been  used  for  feeding  silkworms,  but  are  not  well 
adapted  for  that  purpose. 

Celtis  occidentalis,  Linniieiis. 
(hackberry.) 

A  large  tree,  with  bark  often  much  roughened  by  small  ridges, 
and  flexuous,  smooth,  brown  branches.  It  reaches  a  height  of  130 
and  a  diameter  of  5  feet,  or  sometimes  is  reduced  to  a  low  shrub. 

It  occurs  in  rich  bottoms  or  on  dry  hillsides  from  the  valley  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  river  west  to  eastern  Dakota,  south  through  the 
Atlantic  region  to  southern  Florida,  and  to  Texas  ;  being  most 
abundant  and  reaching  its  best  development  in  the  basin  of  the 
Mississippi   river. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  50  to  70 
feet  and  a  diameter  of  18  to  20  inches,  it  is  found  throughout, 
except  in  the  high  mountain  counties,  as  Ashe,  AVatauga,  Mitchell, 
and  l*ancey,  and  attains  its  greatest  size  and  abundance  in  the 
alluvial  swamps  of  the  coastal  plain. 

It  bears  seed  plentifully  and  as  a  rule  every  year.  Seedlings 
are  common  near  old  trees  and  along  river  bottoms. 

The  leaves  are  ovate,  toothed,  taper-pointed,  and  smooth  at 
maturity.     The    greenish    flowers     are    inconspicuous,    and     the 


HACKBERRY.       SYCAMORE.  81 

rounded,  purplish-red  fruit,  from  i  to  3  inch  in  diameter,  is  sweet 
and  edible. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  rather  soft,  nut  strong-,  coarse-grained,  com- 
pact, clear  light  yellow  in  color;  the  sapwood,  lighter.  It  takes 
a  good  polish,  and  is  largely  used  for  fencing,  and  occasionally  in 
the  manufacture  of  cheap  furniture. 

PJatanus  occiden talis,   Linna?us. 
(sycamore,      bfttoxwood.) 

A  large  tree,  with  deep  brown  smooth  bark,  scaling  olf  in  thin, 
brittle  plates,  leaving  the  tree  a  mottled  polished  white,  or  with 
bark  uniform  and  rough.  It  reaches  a  height  of  130  and  a  diam- 
eter of  nearly  1-1  feet. 

It  occurs  in  rich  moist  soil,  generally  near  streams,  from  south- 
ern Maine  and  the  northern  shores  of  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie 
west  to  eastern  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  south  to  northern  Florida, 
central  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  southern  Texas  ;  reaching  its 
best  tlevelopment  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers.      It  is  a  very  common  tree. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  a  height  of  90  and  a  diameter  of 
5  or  6  feet,  it  occurs  throughout,  growing  to  its  best  size  along  the 
alluvial  swamps  of  the  Piedmont  plateau.  It  is  least  abundant 
on  the  coastal   plain. 

The  sycamore  bears  fruit  in  abundance  and  usually  every  year, 
and  seedlings  are  common  along  streanis.  Old  trees  are  gener- 
ally hollow  at  the  butt.  It  sprouts  very  freely  from  the  stump, 
and  is  easily  propagated  from  cuttings.  The  growth  is  very 
rapid. 

The  large  broad  leaves  are  angularly  lobed  and  toothed,  downy 
when  young,  and  sn)ooth  at  maturity.  The  male  and  female 
flowers  occur  in  separate  small  spherical  heads  with  slender  stems. 
The  fruit  is  a  globular  head  one  inch  in  diameter,  hanging  on  the 
tree  through  the  winter.  The  short,  broad,  pyramidal  buds  are 
formed  beneath  the  swollen  base  of  the  leafstalks.  The  sycamore 
has  numerous  long  running  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  not  strong,  very  close-grained,  com- 
() 


■82  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

|)act,  difficult  to  split  and  work;  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood 
lighter.  It  decays  rapidly  in  contact  with  tlie  soil  or  on  exposure, 
and  warps  and  cracks  badly  in  drying.  It  is  used  for  ox  yokes, 
butchers'  blocks,  for  interior  finish,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fur- 
nitnre,  and  very  largely  for  tobacco  boxes.   . 

Juglans  cinerea,  Linn<eus. 

(white     WALNUT.        BUTTERNUT.) 

A  large  tree,  with  dark  granite-gray  furrowed  bark  and  light 
gray  smoothish  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  115  and  a  diameter 
of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  in  rich  woodlands,  from  southern  New  Brunswick, 
the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river  and  Ontario,  to  Dakota  and 
Nebraska,  southward  to  Delaware,  Missouri,  and  Arkansas,  and 
along  the  Alleghany  mountains  to  Georgia  and  Alabama  ;  reachiiig 
its  best  development  in  the  basin  of  the  Ohio  river. 

In  North  Carolina  it  occurs  through  t)ie  mountains  and  spar- 
ingly through  the  upper  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau,  bnt  is 
nowhere  common.  In  certain  cool,  rich  mountain  valleys  it 
attains  a  height  of  TO  and  a  diameter  of  '.]  feet.      (Fig.  15,  p.  S3.) 

The  white  wahiut  l)eurs  fruit  abundantly  only  every  2  or  3 
years,  and  young  seedlings  are  uncommon.  Young  trees  sprout 
freely  from  the  stump;   old  ones  less  readily. 

The  leallets  are  11  to  17  in  number  on  the  sticky  leafstem, 
rounded  at  the  base,  tai>er-pointed,  sharply  toothed,  and  downy 
on  the  lower  surface.  The  sterile  flowers  are  in  large  green  cat- 
kins, the  fertile  flowers  small  and  inconspicuous.'  The  brown 
fruit  is  2  to  3  inches  long,  very  sticky,  and  coii tains  an  edible 
nut.  The  naked  winter-l)uds  are  liglit  l)rown,  blunt,  and  (covered 
with  soft  down  ;  the  terminal  buds  large  and  conspicuous,  the 
lateral  buds  much  smaller,  two  or  three  together  above  each  leaf- 
scar.  There  are  numerous  strong  supertlcial  lateral  roots,  while 
the  taproot  in  specimens  over  10  inches  in  diameter  is  )>oorly 
developed. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  coarse-grained,  compact,  and 
easily  worked  ;   light  brown    in    color;    the   sapwood,  lighter.      It 


BLACK    WALNUT. 


83 


takes  a  beautiful  polish,  receives  paint  well,  and  is  used  for 
interior  finish,  cabinet  work,  panels  of  carriages,  and  occasionally 
for  the  lower  framework  of  buildings.  The  inner  ])ark  yields  a 
yellow  dye,  and  is  employed  as  a  mild  cathartic. 

Jug-lans   nigra,   Linnaeus. 
(black  walnut.) 

A  large  tree,  of  the  first  commercial  value,  with  a  small  oval 
crown  and  rough  very  dark  brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  150 
and  a  diameter  of  1()  feet  or  more. 

It  occurs  from  western  Massachusetts  to  eastern  Nebraska  and 
Kansas,  and  south  to  northern  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and 
the  valley  of  the  San  Antonio  river  in  Texas  ;  reaching  its  best 
development  in  the  rich  bottom  lands  of  southwestern  Arkansas 
and  Indian  Territory,  and  on  the  western  slopes  of  the  southern 
Allegluniy  mountains. 


MAP  OF 

NORTH    CAKOLINA 


COASTAL  PLAIN    MGION  | 


In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  4<i  to  50 
feet,  it  is  most  abundant  on  tlie  Piedmont  plateau,  but  is  found 
throughout.      (Fig.  15.) 

Forest  trees  bear  seed  abundantly  only  every  3  or  -i  years,  and 
young  seedlings  are  not  common  except  near  mature  trees  in  low 
fertile  rather  open  lands  or  in  fields  and  meadows  which  border 
streams.     The  growth  is  very  ra]»id  until  a  large  size  is  reached. 


84  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

especially  when  the  soil  is  good  and  the  light  conditions  favorable. 
Only  small  trees  send  up  from  the  stnmp  shoots,  which  attain  a 
large  size. 

The  leafstalk  is  slightly  downy  but  not  sticky  :  the  leaflets  15 
to  23  in  nnmber,  smooth  above  and  somewhat  downy  beneath. 
The  fruit  is  round,  greenish-yellow  when  ripe,  about  2  inches  in 
diameter,  and  contains  a  nut  with  an  edible  kernel.  The  large 
terminal  buds  are  covered  with  a  light  brown  tomentum  and  the 
lateral  buds  are  above  tiie  leaf  scars  as  in  the  preceding  species. 
The  black  walnut  has  a  well-developed  taproot  and  numerous 
strong  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  rather  coarse-grained,  liable  to 
check,  easily  worked,  and  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil  :  rich 
dark  brown  in  color  ;  the  thin  sapwood  much  lighter.  It  takes  a 
beautiful  polish,  and  is  used  for  cabinet  making,  interior  finish, 
gunstocks,  and  in  boat  and  shipbuilding.  The  husk  of  the  fruit 
yields  a  dye. 

The  black  walnut  has  been  largel_y  removed  from  tlie  counties 
west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  where  it  reaches  its  largest  size  in  this 
State.  Considerable  quantities  are  still  standing,  however,  in  the 
Piedmont  region,  and  in  the  coastal  plain  region  it  has  not  yet 
been  entirely  removed. 

Hicoria  minima,  Britton.* 

(bITTEKNUT    hickory.        RED-HEART    HICKORY.) 

A  tall  and  slender  tree,  with  a  broadly  pyramidal  crown,  rather 
smooth,  firm,  gray  bark,  and  lighter  smoother  branches,  reaching  a 
height  of  120  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  southern  Maine  to  the  valley  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence river,  westward  through  Ontario,  central  Michigan  and 
Minnesota,  and  the  eastern  parts  of  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Indian 
Territory,  and  southward  to  western  Florida  and  eastern  Texas; 
reaching  its  best  development  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 

In  North  Carolina  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  80  and  a 
diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,   and  occurs  in    moist,  cool    situations,  on 

*Ca)ya  amara,  Nuttall. 


WATER     HICKORY.        SHAGOBARK      HICKORY.  85 

loamy  or  clay  soils  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  but  is  abundant  only 
in  the  mountains,  where  it  is  the  largest  and  most  common 
hickory. 

The  fruit  is  borne  plentifully  at  short  intervals,  and  seedlino-s 
are  frequent  in  the  mountains,  especially  in  moist  open  woods. 

The  leaves  consist  of  5  to  9  small,  narrow,  acute,  smoothish 
leaflets.  The  dark  green  fruit  is  rounded  or  slightly  egg-shaped, 
with  a  very  thin  husk,  opening  half  way  down  when  ripe.  The 
shell  of  the  white,  smooth  nut  is  so  thin  that  it  can  be  broken  with 
the  fingers.  The  kernel  is  intensely  bitter.  The  yellow  winter- 
buds  are  small,  elongated,  and  sliglitly  rounded  or  pointed. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  hard,  strong,  and  tough,  and  checks 
badly  in  drying ;  dark  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter,  or 
often  nearly  white.  The  wood  is  inferior  to  that  of  the  other 
liickories,   but   is   used   for  hoops,  ox  yokes  and  fuel. 

Hicoria  aquatica,  Britton. 

(WATER-BITTERNUT    HICKORY.        WATER     HICKORY. 
SWAMP     HICKORY.) 

A  tree,  with  rough,  somewhat  furrowed  bark,  reaching  a  height 
of  lOt)  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet,  or  generally  much  smaller. 

It  occurs  from  Virginia  through  the  coast  region  to  Florida, 
along  the  Gulf  shore  to  Texas,  and  northward  to  southern  Illinois  ; 
reaching  its  best  development  on  the  lower  Mississippi  and  Yazoo 
rivers. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  confined  to  the  coastal  plain,  it  grows  to 
an  average  height  of  40  to  50  feet.     (Fig.  16,  p.  86.) 

Young  seedlings  are  uncommon  in  this  State,  and  are  found 
only  on  alluvium,  and  then  usually  in  spots  where  trees  have  been 
cut. 

There  are  7  to  13  smooth,  pointed,  slightly  toothed  leaflets. 
The  fruit  is  roundish,  with  a  thin  husk  4-parted  to  the  base.  The 
thin-shelled,  4-angled  nut  contains  a  very  bitter  kernel.  The  flat- 
tened winter-buds  are  covered  with  a  rusty  down.  The  water- 
bitternut  hickory  has  a  poorly  developed  taproot  and  numerous 
strong  lateral  roots. 


8^ 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 


The  wood  is  heavy,  soft,  strong,  rather  brittle,  veiy  close- 
grained,  and  compact  ;  the  heartwood,  dark  brown  ;  the  sapwood 
lighter,  often  nearly  white.  The  timber  is  of  an  inferior  quality, 
and  is  chiefly  used  for  fencing  and  fuel.  It  ;s  rare  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and,  from  the  diflicnlty  in  getting  it  out  of  the  swamps,  it  is 
little  used. 

Hicoria  ovata,  Britton. 

'  (SHAG-HARK     HICKORY.        SHELL-KARK     HICKORY. 

SCALY-BARK     FlICKORY.) 

A  large  tree  of  great  commercial  value,  with  pendulous  Ijrunches, 
and  grayish-brown  bark  separating  from  the  trunk  iti  long  strips. 
It  reaches  a  height  of  150  and  a  diameter  of  -I  feet. 

It  occurs  on  rich  hillsides  and  on  sandjj  ridges  from  the  valley 
of  the  St.  Lawrence  river  to  Michigan  and  southeastern  Min- 
nesota, southward  to  western  Florida,  central  x\labama  and 
Mississippi,  and  westward  to  eastern  Kansas,  Indian  Ter- 
ritory, and  eastern  Texas;  reaL-hing  its  best  development  west  of 
the  Alleghany  mountains.      A  common  tree. 


In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  6n  to  SO 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  15  to  20  in<jhes,  it  occurs 
throughout  but  is  nowhere  common,  and  least  so  in  the  coastal 
plain  region.      (Fig.  16.) 

*  Carva  alba.  Nuttall. 


WHITE    HICKORY.  ST 

Seed  is  borne  frequently  and  in  lary^e  quantities,  but  seedlings 
are  not  common  except  in  the  Piedmont  plateau,  and  young  trees 
are  infrequent  in  second-growth  woods. 

The  leaves  are  large  and  composed  of  5  to  7-pointed,  rather 
coarsely  toothed  leaflets,  the  lower  pair  small  and  narrow,  the 
upper  pair  and  terminal  leaflet  very  large,  l)road  and  inversely 
egg-shaped.  The  barren  flowers  are  in  slender,  pendulous,  green 
tassels,  three  on  a  common  stalk.  The  minute  fertile  fiowers  are 
in  groups  of  2  to  -i  together  on  the  ends  of  the  shoots.  The  thick 
husk  of  the  nearly  globular  fruit  separates  into  four  distinct  pieces, 
and  the  nut  is  white,  sweet,  edible,  and  4-angled.  The  large, 
yellowish-brown,  scaly  buds  are  egg  shaped. 

The  shag-bark  hickory  has  numerous  lateral  roots  and  a  strong 
taproot  which  is  developed  in  early  youth. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  hard  and  strong,  tough,  close-grained, 
com})act,  and  flexible;  light  brown  in  color;  the  thin  and  more 
valuable  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  largely  used  for  agricultural 
implements,  carriages,  axe  and  tool  handles,  baskets  and  fuel. 

Hicoria  alUa,  Briuon.* 

(white     hickory.        bio-bud    HK^KORY.        MOCKERNUT.j 

A  tree,  with  dark  ashen-gray,  deeply  furrowed  l)ark,  reaching 
a  height  of  108  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  oc^'urs  from  southern  Ontario  to  the  eastern  parts  of  Nebraska, 
Kansas,  and  Indian  Territory,  southward  to  central  Florida  and 
the  valley  of  the  Brazos  river,  Texas.  It'grows  on  rich  hillsides 
or  in  low  river  bottoms,  and  is  very  common  in  the  Gulf  states 
and  throughout  the  South. 

In  North  Carolina,  wliere  it  grows  to  an  averagejieight  of  60 
feet  and  a  diameter  of  18  to  20  inches,  it  is  common  throughout 
the  State.     (Fig.  17,  p.  8S.) 

The  white  hickory  bears  fruit  fref|uently  and  in  abundance. 
Seedlings  are  common  near  old  trees  and  in  second-growth 
woods,  and  often  in  dry  or  moist  uplands  a  consideral^le  part 
of  the  forest  is  composed  of  young  trees  of  this  species.      Yuong 

*Carya  tomentosa,  Xuttall. 


88 


timbp:r  trees  of  north   Carolina. 


trees,  when  cut  down  or  killed  by  lire,  send  up  ninnerous  sprouts 
from  the  stump.  Late  spring  frosts  are  very  injurious  to  this 
species,  frequently  checking  the  growth  of  the  new  twigs  and  at 
times  killi«g  the  tree. 

The  leaves  are  very  large  and  consist  of  7  to  9  leaflets,  the  lower 
surface  of  which,  as  well  as  the  recent  shoots  and  leafstems,  are 
downy  when  young.  The  fruit  is  oval,  nearly  round  or  slightly 
pear-shaped,  and  li  to  2  inches  or  more  in  length.  The  husk 
splits  nearly  to  the  base  when  ripe.  The  thick-shelled,  somewhat 
6-angled  nut  contains  a  small  and  unusually  sweet  kernel.  The 
winter-buds  are  lairge,  round,  and  covered  with  downy,  hard, 
grayish- white  scales. 

The  wood  is  heavj-,  very  hard,  strong,  tough,  very  close-grained, 
and  flexible,  and  checks  in  drying.  The  heartwood  is  rich  dark 
brown  ;  the  thick  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  the  same 
purposes  as  the  wood  of  the  shag-bark  hickory.     (Page  S6.) 

Hicoria  glabra,  Britton. 

(pignut.) 

A  large  tree,  with  an  oval  head  and  firm,  close,  rough,  gray 
bark  on  the  trunk,  and  smoother,  lighter  bark  on  the  branches. 
It  reaches  a  height  of  130  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet. 


MAP  OF 
NORTH    CAKOLINA 


•  LEGEND 

J  Area  in  which  the  WHITE  and  PIGNUT 
HICKORIES  are  abundant 
(.Ilicora  alba,  Br///,  and  H.  glabra,  Briii.) 
I  Areas  in  which  the  WHITE  and  PIGNUT 
]       HICKORIES  are  frequent. 

I  Area  in  whicb  the  WHITE  and  PIGNUT 
J       HICKORIES  rarely  occur. 


It  occurs  on   dry   hills   and   uplands   from   southern   Maine  to 
southern  Ontario,  southern  Michigan,  Minnesota,  the  eastern  parts 


X.  r.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN  6.   PLATE  Vll. 


WHITE  OAK 


PIGNUT    \VHITE    OAK.  89 

of  Nebraska,  and  Indian  Territory,  and  sonrli  to  western  Florida 
and  southern  Texas  ;  reaeliino-  its  l)est  development  in  the  lower 
Ohio  l)asin. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  70  to  80 
feet,  it  is  found  tiiroughout.  It  is  not  a  common  tree  in  the  mount- 
ains, and  is  rare  in  the  coastal  plain  region  ;  hut  along  with  the 
white  hickory  it  is  fairly  aV)undant  in  the  Piedmont  plateau 
region.      (Fig.  IT,  p  88.) 

The  pignut  bears  fruit  fre(|uently  and  in  large  quantities,  and 
young  growth  is  common  near  the  parent  trees  and  through  sec- 
•ond-groM'th  woods. 

The  leaves  are  long,  with  5  to  7  smooth  leatiets.  The  smooth, 
tapering  twigs  are  smaller  than  in  the  two  preceding  species.  The 
fruit  is  pear-shaped  or  rounded,  with  very  thin  husks  splitting 
al)out  halfway  to  the  base.  The  rather  thin-shelled  nut,  about  i 
inch  ill  diameter,  contains  a  small  sweetish  or  slightly  bitter  ker- 
nel. The  polished  brown  winter-buds  are  egg-shaped  and  pointed 
or  rounded  It  has  numerous  lateral  roots  and  a  taproot  which 
is  developed  early  in  the  litV'  of  the  tree. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  very  strong,  and  tough,  flexible  and 
close-grained,  and  checks  in  drying;  dark  or  liglit  brown  in  color; 
the  tlii(dc  sapwood  lighter,  often  nearly  white.  Its  uses  are  the 
same  as  those  of  the  shag-bark  hickoi-y,  to  the  wt)od  of  which 
species  for  some  ])urposes  it  i^  preferred. 

Quercus    alba,    Linnaeus. 
(white   oak.) 

A  large  tree,  of  great  economic'  value,  with  lai-ge  spreading 
branches  and  a  bark  which  is  either  light  gray,  slightly  rough- 
ened, and  in  the  older  trees,  loosens  in  large  thin  scales,  or  is  gray, 
firm,  and  deeply  furrowed.  It  reaches  a  height  of  150  and  a  diam- 
eter of  8  feet.     (Plate  YII.) 

It  occurs  on  all  soils  from  noithern  Maine  to  the  valley  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  westward  through  lower  Michigan  to  southeastern 
Minnesota,  and  southward  ti.>  St.  John's  river  and  Tampa  bay, 
Florida,  and    the  vallev  of  the  P)razos  river,  Texas  ;    reachino;    its 


i>0 


TIMBKK    TRKES    OF     NoKTH     CAROLINA. 


best  (levelopiiient  on  the  sl()i)e>  of  the  Anc.ii-hiinv  mountains,  and 
ill  the  vulley  of  tht^  Ohio  rivor  and  its  trihu taries.  It  is  a  com- 
mon tree  in  a  considerahle  portion  of  the  central  and  eastern 
states. 


MAP   OF 

NORTH   CAROLINA 


LEGEND 
j  Area  in  which  the  WHITE  OAK  is  one  ot 
the  dominant  trees 

(Quercus  alba,  Z.) 


I;-::::  Area  in  which  the  WHITE  OAK  occurs  but 
l-"-'-'""-"-'-l  .    rarely. 


j: 


In  Nortli  Carolina,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  7<>  to 
80  and  an  average  diameter  of  -t  to  5  feet,  it  occurs  throughout, 
and  is  common  ever^'where  except  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
State  and  on  the  sandy  soils  of  the  southeastern  section.  It  is 
most  plentiful  on  the   Piedmont  plateau.      (Fig.  18.) 

Large  quantities  of  seed  are  produced  about  once  in  three 
years.  The  acorns  germinate  in  all  kinds  of  soil  and  frequently 
seed  up  old  fields.  Young  seedlings  are  common  in  all  situations, 
and  bear  well  either  the  deep  shade  of  the  old  tree  or  full  expos- 
ure to  the  sun.  Young  white  oaks  are  apt  to  form  a  large  part 
of  the  new  growth  after  the  removal  of  the  yellow  poplar,  short- 
leaf  pine  or  the  white  oak. itself.  In  many  parts  of  the  original 
forest,  on  poor  soil,  white  oalc  is  the  predominant  tree,  and  it 
generally  forms  a  large  part  of  seijond  growth  of  mixed  hard- 
woods. Small  trees  sprout  freely  and  vigorously  from  the  stump. 
Individuals  over  3  inches  in  diameter  are  not  easily  killed  by  fire. 
Large  trees  are  rarely  hollow.  Though  a  large  number  of  insects 
live  on  the  white  oak,  it  is  not  seriously  injured  by  borers  or 
insects  which  attack  the.  leaves  or  twigs.  A  weavil  frequently 
destroys  the  acorns. 

The  leaves  are  acute  at  the  base,  with  7  to  9  blunt,  rounded, 
usually  entire  lobes.      The  male  flowers  are  in  long  slender  thicjids. 


POST    OAK. 


91 


the  female  very  minute.  The  acorns, nsnally  in  pairs,  liave  rounded' 
saucer-shaped,  rough,  warty  cups,  and  brown,  sweet,  edible  nuts. 
The  small  blunt  winter-buds  are  smooth,  as  are  the  light  brown, 
or  gray  slender  twigs.  The  white  oak  has  a  taproot  and  numer- 
ous deeply  seated  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  strong,  very  heavy,  hard,  tough, .close-grained, 
liable  to  check,  and  very  durable  in  contact  WMth  the  soil  ;  brown 
in  color  ;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  used  for  shipbuilding,  con- 
struction, cooperage,  carriages,  agricultu;-al  implements,  railway 
ties,  fencing,  interior  finish,  cabinet-making,  baskets,  fuel,  etc 
It  is  altogether  one  of  the  most  important  timl)ers  of  the  United 
States. 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  largely  used  for  fuel,  clapboards,  fenc- 
ing, ties,  and  staves.  It  has  been  manufactured  into  lumber  for 
local  uses  only.  Large  (jaaiitities  of  merchantable  timber  still 
stand  in  the  mountain  counties  and  in  many  of  the  counties  of 
the  Piedmont  plateau.  The  bark  is  used  extensively  for  tanning,, 
but  is  less  highly  valued  than  that  of  the  chestnut  oak. 

Quercus  minor,  Sargent. 
(post  oak.) 

A  tree,  with  rough  hard  gray  bark,  and  numerous  spreading 
branches,  reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet :  or  on 
the  Florida  coast  reduced  to  a  low   shrub. 

It  occurs  generally  in  poor  soil  from  Massachusetts  south  to 
northern  Florida,  and  west  through  southern  Ontario  and  Michi- 
gan to  eastern  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Indian  Territory,  and  into 
central  Texas,  and  is  very  common  in  the  Gulf  states  west  of  the 
Mississippi. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  50  and  a  diameter  of 
-t  feet,  it  occurs  in  greatest  numbers  and  attai;'.s  its  largest  size  in 
the  Piedmont  counties.  Here  it  forms  with  the  white  oak  a  large 
part  of  the  second-growth  in  the  forest  and  in  old  fields.  It  is 
not  common  in  the  transmontane  counties.  In  tlie  eastern 
section  it  frequently  forms,  on  the  margins  of  swamps,  a  lower 
story  beneath  the  willow  and  water  oaks.      (Fisf.  19,  p.  92.) 

The  post  oak  bears  fruit  abundantly  e/ery   2    or  8   years,  and 


1^2 


TIMBER    TREES    OF     NORTH    CAROLINA. 


young  plants  are  common  in  thinned    and  second-o;ro\vth    woods, 
bearing  well  both    deep    shade    and    strong    light.     It    does    not 


LEGEND 

Distribution  of  the  POST  OAK 

(Quercus  minor,  Sarg.) 


sprout  as  freely  as  white  oak.  Although  in  favorable  situations 
the  growth  is  rapid,  in  general  it  grows  more  slowly  than  the 
white  oak. 

"The  leaves  are  stiff,  leathery,  rough  above,  whitish  and  downy 
below,  and  divided  into  5  to  7  roundish  divergent  lobes,  the 
npper  lobe  large  and  often  double.  The  acorns,  borne  on  short 
foot-stalks,  are  small  and  sweet,  and  seated  in  deep,  grayish, 
smooth-scaled  cups.  The  winter-buds  are  small,  rounded, smooth, 
and  dark  brownish-red. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  close-grained,  compact,  checks  badly 
in  drying,  and  is  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil;  dark  or 
light  brown  in  color;  the  sapvvood  lighter.  It  is  used  for  construc- 
tion, cooperage,  sliipbuilding,  fencing,  railroad  ties,  fuel,  and 
occasionally  for  carriage  stock.  Large  quantities  have  been  cut  in 
the  Piedmont  section  for  staves,  and  it  is  extensively  used 
throughout  the  middle  and  eastern  counties  for  posts,  ties,  etc. 

Quercus    lyrata,    Walter. 

(OVERCUP    OAK.        SWAMP    POST    OAK.) 

A  large  tree,  with  rough  flaky  gray  bark,  and  smooth  gray 
small  often  pendulous  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a 
diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  in  wet  soil,  from  Maryland  southward  near  the  coast. 


ROCK    CHESTNUT    OAK. 


93 


to  western  Florida,  westward  through  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and 
Louisiana,  to  the  valley  of  the  Trinity  river,  Texas,  and  through 
Arkansas  and  southeastern  Missouri  to  middle  Tennessee,  south- 
ern Indiana,  and  Illinois  ;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the 
valley  of  the  Red  river  and  adjacent  portions  of  Arkansas  and 
Texas.      It  is  rare  in  the  Atlantic  states. 

In  i*s^orth  Carolina  it  occurs  on  the  oak  iiats  of  the  coastal  plain,, 
and. in  the  alluvial  swamps  of  the  rivers  as  far  inland  as  Anson, 
Orange,  and  Xash  (bounties.     (Fig.  20.) 

The  overcup  oak  hears  acorns  plentifnlly  at  intervals  of  3  or  -i 
years,  but  young  seedlings  are  infrequent.  The  fruit  is  devoured 
by  swine,  and  the  young  plants  are  destroyed  by  browsing  cattle. 


MAP  OF 
NORTH    CAKOLINA 


LEGEND 
Distribution  of  the  OVERCUP  OAK 
'  (Quercus  lyrata,  IVa/i.) 


The  leaves  are  oblong,  crowded  at  the  ends  of  the  branchlets, 
and  7  to  9-lobed,  the  divisions  acute  or  blunt,  entire  or  somewhat 
toothed.  The  large  subglobose  acorn  is  nearly  covered  bv  the 
scaly,  thin,  rugged,  fringed  cup.  The  light  chestnut-brown  winter- 
buds  are  small  and  egg-shaped.  The  overcup  oak  has  a  tap-root 
and  many  rather  deeply  seated  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  tougli,  close-grained,  and 
inclined  to  check,  and  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil;  rich 
dark  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  used  for  the  same 
purposes  as  that  of  the  white  oak.  Very  little  of  this  timber  has 
ever  been  cut. 

Quercus  prinus,  Linnaeus. 

(rock    chestnut  oak.     chestnut  oak.      buck  oak.) 

A   large   tree,   with    deeply   furrowed    dark    gray    bark,  and    a 


'94  TIMBER    TREES    OF      NORTH     CAROLINA. 

broadly  oval  crown,  reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a  diameter 
of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  southern  Maine  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Champlain, 
•Quinte  bay,  Ontario,  and  the  valley  of  the  Genesee  river,  New 
York,  south  to  Delaware,  and  through  the  Appalachian  mountain 
region  to  northern  Alabama,  extending  westward  to  central  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee. 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  found  on  dry  soil  and  on  the  tops  of 
ridges  westward  from  Franklin  and  Montgomery  counties.  It 
reaches  its  best  development  oi;  the  slopes  of  the  lower  mountains 
at  an  elevation  of  2,000  to  4,000  feet,  where  with  other  oaks  and 
the  chestnut  it  constitutes  a  large  part  of  the  forest.  Above  4,000 
feet  it  grows  on  the  driest  and  rockiest  ridges,  often  forming 
extensive  groves  of  pure  forest.  In  the  Piedmont  plateau  region  a 
smaller  form  is  found,  which  seldom  reaches  a  diameter  of  one  foot. 
(Fig.  21,  p.  95.) 

The  rock  chestnut  oak  bears  acorns  very  plentifully  nearly  every 
year,  or  in  the  deep  woods  every  second  year.  Young  trees  in  all 
stages  of  growth  are  common  in  open  woods  on  dry  rocky  mount- 
ains or  in  abandoned  fields.  In  Lincoln  and  Union  counties  the 
chestnut  oak  forms  a  considerable  part  of  the  regrowth  after  the 
removal  of  mixed  hardwoods  and  the  short-leaf  pine.  Only  the 
■smaller  trees  sprout  from  the  stump.  Many  of  the  large  speci- 
mens growing  upon  dry  soil  are  hollow  at  the  butt  as  a  result  of 
frequent  fires.  Borers  often  penetrate  the  lower  parts  of  the 
stems  of  small  trees  which  occur  on  dry  ground,  but  trees  in  damp 
situations  are  nearly  always  sound. 

The  leaves  are  upon  short  stems,  usually  broadest  toward  the 
extremity,  and  with  6  to  13  large  rounded  teeth  on  each  side. 
Tiie  acorns  are  large  and  oval,  with  thick,  warty  cups.  The  lai'ge 
blunt  winter-buds  and  the  twigs  are  smooth.  The  numerous, 
branching  roots  penetrate  deeply  into  the  soil. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  rather  tough,  close-grained, 
durable  in  contact  with  the  soil,  and  inclined  to  check  in  drying; 
dark  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  largely  used  for 
fencing,  railroad  ties,  and  fuel.      The  bark  is  rich  in  tannin. 


SWAMP    CHESTNUT    OAK. 


95 


A  larpje  anionnt  of  bark  is  peeled  in  Buncombe,  Burke,  McDow- 
ell, and  Wilkes  counties  to  supply  local  tanneries,  and  much  timber 
3ias  been  cut  in  Lincoln  county  for  charcoal.  Large  quantities  of 
chestnut  oak  still  remain,  however,  in  all  the  western  counties. 

Quercus  michauxii,  Nuttall. 

(basket  OAK.      cow  OAK.      SWAMP  WHITE  OA  K.      SW  AMP  CHESTNUT  OAK.) 

A  large  tree,  of  great  economic  value,  with  gray  rather  scaly 
bark  and  stout  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  120  and  a  diameter 
of  7  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Delaware,  south  through  the  lower  and  middle 
districts  to  northern  Florida,  thence  through  the  Gulf  states  to 
the  valley  of  the  Trinity  river,  Texas,  and  through  Arkansas  to 
southeastern  Missouri,  to  central  Tennessee  and  Kentucky,  and 
the  valley  of  the  lower  Wabash  river;  reaciiing  its  best  develop- 
ment on  the  rich  bottom  lands  in  southeastern  Arkansas  and 
Louisiana.     It  is  common  in  the  Gulf  states. 


MAP 
NORTH  C 

OF 

AKOLIN  V 

MOUNTAIN 

PIEDMONT 

SCALE  C 

( 

•fffr?"';^ 

Fio 

21 

jPife 

ILr-- 

I, 

^^^ 

^ 

=5r;4= 

^:^-^^- 

^  / 

PLAIN   REGION 


^;^(- 


LEGEND 
I  Economic  distribution  of  the  ROCK  CHEST- 
I       NUT  OAK 

(Quercus  prinus,  L.) 

I  Distribution  of  the  BASKET  or   SWAMP- 
I       CHESTNUT  OAK 

(Quercus  michauxii,  A'k//.) 


In  this  State  (fig.  21.)  it  is  found  in  swamps  of  the  coastal  plain 
and  Piedmont  plateau  regions,  and  on  the  bottom  lands  of  the 
Cape  Fear  and  Neuse  rivers,  attains  a  height  of  100  and  a  diame- 
ter of  6  feet. 

Abundant  production  of  seed  occurs  at  intervals  of  2  to  3  years. 
Seedlings  are  common  in  wet  open  spots  on  damp  hill  sides  in  the 


96  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

Piedmont  plateau  region.  Sprouts  ^row  readily  from  the  stump, 
but  seldom  reach  a  large  size. 

The  leaves  are  rather  rigid,  downv  beneath,  and  with  large  reg- 
ular, rounded  teeth.  The  large  sweet  edible  acorns  are  set  in 
shallow  cups  which  are  roughened  with  acute  coarse  scales.  The 
brown  winter-buds  are  large,  smooth,  and  pointed.  There  are 
many  deep  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  very  strong,  tough,  close-grained, 
compact,  easily  split,  and  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil  ; 
light  brown  in  color  ;  thesapwood  darker.  It  is  used  for  agricult- 
ural implements,  cooperage,  wheel  stock,  baskets,  fencing,  fuel, 
and  construction.  In  the  eastern  counties  a  small  quantity  of  the 
timber  has  been  cat  for  local  uses. 

Quercus  virginiana.  Miller.* 

(live  oak.) 

A  large  evergreen  tree,  with  dark,  deeplj^  furrowed  bark  and 
gray  branches,  a  short  body  and  a  flat  or  spreading  top,  reaching 
a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  7  feet ;  in  the  interior  of  Texas 
often  reduced  to  a  shrub.     (Plate  VIII.) 

It  is  found  near  the  coast  from  Virginia  to  southern  Florida 
and  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  Mexico,  extending  through  western 
Texas  and  the  valley  of  the  Ked  river,  the  Apache  and  the  Gaud- 
alupe  mountains,  and  into  Mexico,  at  elevations  of  six  to  eight 
thousand  feet,  and  in  the  island  of  Costa  Kica ;  reaching  its  best 
development  in  the  south  Atlantic  states. 

In  North  Carolina  it  occurs  near  the  coast  on  deep  sandy  soil 
with  the  water  and  willow  oaks,  American  olive,  and  southern  lin. 
North  of  Cape  Hatteras  it  is  a  rare  tree  but  south  of  that  point  it 
becomes  more  abundant  until,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
it  forms  with  the  palmetto  a  considerable  part  of  the  maritime 
forest  of  Smith's  island.     (Fig.  22,  p.  97.) 

The  growth,  particularly  in  youth,  is  very  vigorous.  Young 
seedlings  are  common  near  old  trees.  Small  trees  sprout  readily 
from  the  stump. 

The  evergreen  leaves  are  thick,  leathery,  oblong   and   obtuse, 

*Quercus  virens,  Alton. 


o  _: 

o    2 


if.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  SrRVEY. 


BTTT,T,F.TIN  f).      PLATE  IX. 


RED  OAK 


97 


smootli  above,  and  hairy  beneath.  The  fruit,  wliich  is  borne 
upon  a  lon^  stem,  is  an  oblong,  dark  brown,  or  black  acorn  set  in 
a  top-shaped,  downy  cup.  The  roots  are  spreading  and  rather 
deeply  seated,  and  can  bear  sea  water,  at  least  if  covered  only 
during  high  tide. 

The  wood  is  very  heavy,  hard,  strong,  tough,  close  grained, 
compact ;  it  takes  a  beautiful  polish,  but  is  dithcult  to  work  :  light 
brown  or  yellow  in  color;  the  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  used 
for  shipbuilding,  and  the  bark  is  occasionally  employed  for  tan- 
ning. It  is  not  abundant  enough  in  North  Carolina  to  be  of  com- 
mercial importance. 


Quercus  rubra,  Linna-us 


(ked  oak.) 

A  large  tree,  with  dark  brown  furrowed  bark,  nearly  black  on 
large  trunks,  and  rather  smooth  branches  which  form  a  large 
oval  or  round  head,  reaching  a  height  of  150  and  a  diameter  of 
7  feet.     (Plate  IX.) 

It  occurs  from  Nova  Scotia,  southern  New  Brunswick,  and 
eastern  Minnesota,  western  Iowa,  eastern  Kansas  and  Indian 
Territory  soutii  to  northern  Fh)rida,  southern  Alabama  and 
Mississippi,  and  western  Texas,  reaching  its  best  development 
north  of  the  Ohio  river.      A  common  tree. 


In  the  coastal  plain  region  of  North  Carolina  it  is  rare  ;  somewhat 
more   common   in  the    Piedmont   plateau  on  shady    hillsides    and 


98  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

moist  land  ;  and  most  abundant  in  the  mountains  where  it  is 
frequently  130  feet  high  and  6  or  7  feet  in  diameter.  (Fig.  22.) 
At  high  elevations  it  is  often  found  M'ith  the  chestnut  oak  on  dry 
ridges,  and  there  attains  an  average  height  of  60  to  70  feet.  In 
the  Piedmont   plateau  it  is  often  confounded   with  the  black  oak. 

It  bears  acorns  plentifully  about  every  second  year,  though  two 
jieed  years  in  succession  are  not  unusual.  Young  seedlings  are 
common  in  the  woods  and  endure  heavy  shade  well,  but  need  a 
light  cover  for  rapid  growth.  Young  trees  are  very  sensitive  to 
lire.  Only  small  specimens  sprout  well  from  the  stump.  After 
lumbering  the  regrowth  usually  consists  of  the  same  species  mixed 
M'ith  chestnut  oak,  scarlet  oak,  wliite  oak,  and  chestnut. 

The  thin,  glossy  leaves  are  oblong,  wedge-siiaped  at  the  base, 
and  usually  dilated  toward  the  end,  with  5  or  6  lobes  on  each  side 
separated  by  rounded,  rather  shallow  notches.  The  thick,  oblong, 
broad-based  acorn  is  dark  brown  and  seated  in  a  shallow  small- 
scaled  cup  which  is  either  short-stalked  or  sessile.  The  ovate 
pointed  winter-buds  are  dark  brown  and  smooth.  The  tap-root 
develops  early  in  life,  and  after  the  plant  is  well  started  a  system 
of  large  lateral  roots  is  formed. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  coarse-grained,  and  inclined 
to  check:  light  brown  or  red  in  color;  the  sapwood  somewhat 
darker.  It  is  used  for  (•lapl)oards,  cooperage,  interior  finish,  and 
the  manufacture  of  fuiiiitui-e.  The  l)ark  is  occasionally  used  for 
tanning.  Large  quantities  have  been  cut  in  North  Caroliuri  for 
local  use,  but  a  great  amount  is  still  standing  in  the  western 
^counties. 

Quercns  texana,   Buckley. 

(TEXAS     RED    OAK.        SWAMP     RED    OAK.) 

A  large  tree,  with  a  narrow  pyramidal  crown,  shallow-furrowed 
striped  gray  and'black  or  mottled  bark,  and  smooth  gray  l)ranches, 
reaching  a  height  of  nearly  200  feet  and  a  diameter  of  4  to  S 
feet. 

It  occurs  from  Iowa  south  to  Texas  and  east  to  the  eastern 
part  of  Virginia  and  central  Georgia;  reaching  its  greatest  devel- 
opment on  the  alluvial  lands  of  the  lower  Mississippi  river.  It 
irrows  to  a  greater  height  than  any  other  American  oak. 


SCARI,ET    OAK.       SPOTTED    OAK.       SPAXISH    OAK. 


99 


In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  50  to 
70  feet,  it  is  locally  found  from  Lincoln  county  eastward  to  Person 
county,  growing  on   the   rich,  moist  loams  of  river  swamps  or  on 


\OKlH    C  VKOLI'VV 


/^m 


LEGEND 

RfFFj  Distribution    of    the    TUPJvEY   or    FORK- 
^g        LEAVED  BLACK-JACK  OAK 
(Querciis  catesbaei,  Michx.) 

^VM  Known   distribution  of   the   TEXAS    RED 
OAK  (Quercus  texana,  j9«f;^) 


damp  hillsides,  associated  with  the  yellow  oak,  swamp  white  oak, 
red  and  willow  oaks,  and  elms.      (Fig.  23.) 

Throughont  North  Carolina  it  reproduces  itself  slowly,  and 
young  seedlings  are  rarely  found  in  the  forest,  although  it  flowers 
regularlj'  and  matures  fruit  every  two  or  three  years. 

The  small  thin  light  green  leaves,  deeply  lobed  on  the  sides, 
are  smooth  on  botli  surfaces,  except  for  large  tufts  of  brownish 
hairs  beneath  in  the  axils  of  the  primary  veins.  The  leaf-stem  is 
nearly  as  long  as  the  leaf.  The  oblong  or  cylindrous  acorn  is 
borne  in  a  shallow  cup,  which  like  the  acorn,  is  generally  smooth. 
The  long  acute  sharply  angled  winter-buds  are  smooth,  as  are 
the  steel-gray  twigs.      The  strong  lateral  roots  lie  near  the  surface. 

The  wood,  heavier  and  stronger  than  that  of  the  northern  red 
oak,  is  coarse-grained  and  porous,  reddish-brown  in  color;  the  thick 
sapwood  light  brown.  It  is  superior  in  working  qualities  to  that 
of  tiie  northern  red  oak  or  any  other  of  the  American  red  and 
l)lack  oaks.  In  North  Carolina,  on  account  of  the  infrefiuent 
occurrence  of  the  tree,  the  wood  is  put  to  no  specific  uses. 


Quercus  coccinea,  Muenchhauseu. 

(scarlet    C)AK.        spotted    OAK.        SPANISH    OAK.        RED    OAK). 

A  slender  tree,  with  a  short  trunk,  smooth  dark  gray  or  black 


100 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    ^'ORTH     CAROLINA. 


linelj  ridged  bark,  and  smooth  gray  branches  which  form  an  oval 
top,  reaching  a  height  of  175  and  a  diameter  of  1  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Maine  to  Ontario,  Minnesota,  and  Nebraska,  and 
sou«:h  to  Xorth  Carolina;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the 
lower  Ohio  basin.     It  is  usually  confounded  with  the  black  oak. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  80  and  a  diam- 
eter of  3i  feet,  it  occurs  sparingly  in  the  coastal  plain  on  sandy 
loam,  bat  is  more  common  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  on  gravelly 
loam  growing  with  the  post  oak,  white  oak,  and  short-leaf  pine. 
In  the  mountains,  at  an  elevation  of  2,500  to  3,500  feet,  it  is  one 
of  the  commonest  trees.     (Fig-  24-.) 


The  scarlet  oak  bears  acorns  plentifully  every  2  or  3  years,  and 
young  plants  are  common  through  the  woods  in  many  of  the  west- 
ern counties.  Only  young  trees  sprout  readily  from  the  stump. 
Trees  over  3  feet  in  diameter  are  usually  hollow  or  red-liearted, 
dry  rot  causing  the  defect. 

The  thin  smooth  leaves  are  on  long  slender  stems  and  deeply 
cut  into  long  lobes  by  broad  round  notches.  They  turn  to  a  brill- 
iant scarlet  in  the  autumn.  The  small  oval  acorns  are  strongly 
pointed  and  half-imbedded  in  a  deep  coarsely-scaled  cup.  The 
slender,  slightly  angled  winter-buds  are  pointed,  and,  like  the 
slender  twigs,  smooth  and  reddish.  The  root  system  of  older 
trees  is  distinctly  lateral,  many  of  the  roots  being  superficial,  or 
frequently  exposed. 


BLACK    OAK. 


101 


The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  close-grained  ;  the  lieart- 
wood  light  brown  or  red  ;  tlie  sapwood  rather  darker.  The  lum- 
ber, if  used  at  all,  is  confounded  with  that  of  the  red  oak.  The 
bark  is  sometimes  used  in  tanning,  but  is  inferior  to  that  of  the 
black  oak.  It  is  rare!}'  used  in  this  State  except  for  coarse 
staves  and  shakes,  and  for  fuel. 

Quercus  velutina,  Lamarck." 

(BLACK    OAK.) 

A  large  tree,  with  rough  or  deeply  furrowed  nearly  black  bark, 
grayish  branches,  a  long  clear  trunk,  and  an  oval  crown,  reaching 
a  height  of  160  and  a  diameter  of  0  feet. 

]t  is  very  common  on  dry  or  gravelly  uplands  from  Maine  to 
MiiHiesota,  eastern  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Indian  Territorj',  and 
south  to  western  Florida,  and  easterti  Texas.  It  reaches  its  best 
development  in  the  valley  of  the  lower  Ohio  river. 

In  Xortli  Carolina  (fig.  25),  wliere  it  attaiiis  an  average  height 
of  so  to  90  and  an  average  diameter  of  •!  to  .")  feet,  it  is  most  abun- 
dant in  the  upper  i)art,  and  occurs  very  sparingly,  if  at  all,  in 
the  lower. 


MAP  OF 
NORTH   CAROLINA 


COAbTAL  PLAIN    REGION 


LEGEND 
Area  in  which  the  BLACK  OAK  is  one  of  the 
dominant  trees    (Quercus  velutina,  Lam.') 

Area  in  which  the  BLACK  OAK  is  a  sub- 
ordinate tree. 

Distribution  of  the  LAUREL  OAK 
(Quercus  laurifolia,  Mic/ix.') 


n 


It  bears  fruit  abundantly  at  intervals  of  2  or  8  years,  and  seed- 
Jings    are   common    under    the    light    shade    of    the   parent  tree. 
Black  oak  forms  a   large  part  of  the  second   growth    mixed  hard- 
*Quei-cus  tiiictorla,  Bartrani. 


1(»2  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

wood  forests  in  the  middle  and  the  lower  part  of  the  Piedmont 
plateau.      Large  trees  are  often  hollow  or  red-hearted. 

The  forest  tent  caterpillar,  Cl^isiocampa  disstria,  Hiiebner,  is 
often  destructive  to  the  foliage,  and  much  injury  is  also  caused, 
especially  to  young  trees,  by  the  oak  pruner,  Elaphidion  villosum, 
Fabricius. 

The  leaves  are  inversely  egg-shaped,  thicker  and  less  deei)ly 
cut  than  those  of  the  scarlet  oak,  and  usually  darker  in  color  and 
less  polished.  The  small  acorn,  nearly  half  enclosed  in  a  thick 
scaly  cup,  contains  a  yellowisli  and  very  hitter' kei-nel. 

The  buds  are  thick,  pyramidal,  and  downy.  There  are  many 
deeply  penetrating  lateral  as  well  as  superficial  running  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  not  tough,  coarse-grained,  lia- 
ble to  check  in  drying  ;  bright  brown  tinged  with  red  in  color; 
the  sapwood  much  lighter.  It  is  used  for  cooperage,  construction, 
etc.  The  bark  is  largely  used  for  tanning.  Quercitron,  a  valua- 
ble yellow  dye,  is  derived  from  the  inner  l);n-k,  which  has  astrin- 
gent medicinal  properties. 

It  has  been  cut  extensively  throughout  the  Piedmont  [dateau 
for  building  material  and  cooperage,  and  locally  the  l)ark  has 
been  employed  to  a  considerable  extent  in  tanning. 

Quercus  catesbaei,  Michaux. 

(fork-leaved     BLACK-.IACK     OAK.        SAND      HLACK-.JACK     OAK.         SCRUB 
OAK.        TURKEY    OAK.) 

A  small  tree,  with  oval  crown,  numerous  irregular  droujnng 
branches,  and  deeply  farrowed  black  bark,  reaching  a  height  ot 
about  50  and  a  diameter  of  2  feet. 

It  occurs  iipon  barren  sandy  hills  and  ridges  fron]  (Tutes 
county,  N.  C,  to  central  Florida,  and  along  the  coast  to  eastern 
Louisiana. 

In  this  State  (lig.  23,  p.  09)  it  is  common  south  of  the  Neuse 
river  in  the  pine  barrens,  where  it  lias  a  height  of  about  2U  feet 
and  a  diameter  of  S  inches. 

Fork-leaved  black-jack  oak,  generally  bears  fruit  annually,  and 
seedlings  are  very  abundant  on  dry  sandy  soil.  Its  growth  is 
rapid,  but  in   North  Carolina  the  tree  seldom  lives  longer  than  40 


SPANISH    OAK. 


103 


vears.  It  grows  frequently  with  the  long-leaf  pine,  and  often 
replaces  it  after  lumbering. 

The  rather  leathery,  ])roa(;lly  oval  leaves  are  deeply  lobed.  The 
large  ovoid  acorn  is  half  enclosed  in  a  short-stalked,  thick,  top- 
shaped  cnp.  The  winter  buds  are  large,  conical  and  covered  with 
brownish  down.      The  root  system  consists  of  deep  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  close-grained,  compact,  and 
light  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  somewhat  lighter.  It  is  largely 
used  for  fuel.      The  ash  is  rich  in  alkali  and  the  bark  in  tannin. 


Quercus  digitata,  Sudworth.* 

(SPANISH     OAK.        KKD    OAK.) 

A  tree,  with  a  large  spreading  top,  nearly  black  rougli  bark,  and 
smooth  dark  gray  branches,  reaching  a  lieiglit  of  100  and  a 
diameter  of  6  feet. 

It  occurs  from  southern  New  Jersey  south  to  middle  Florida, 
through  the  Gulf  states  to  the  Brazos  river,  Texas,  and  through 
Arkansas  and  southeastern  Missouri  to  central  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky,  southern  Illinois  and  Indiana  ;  reaching  its  best  devel- 
opment in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states. 

In  North  Carolina  where  it  attains  ati  average  height  of  7(,>  to 
so  and  a  diameter  of  3  to  4  feet,  growing  on  dry  heavy  soils,  it  is 
very  common  throughout,  (iig.  26,)  although  rather  less  so  toward 
the  imumtains. 


MAP   OF 

>ORrH    CAKOLINl 


LEGEND 
Distribution  of  the  SPANISH   OAK 
(Quercus  digitata,  Sjid.) 


Acorns  are  borne  in  abundance  every  o   or  4  years,  ami   young 

*  (^luercus  cuneata,  Wany;enlieiiii  and  ().  falcata  Micliaux. 


lO-i  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

seedlings  are  plentiful  in  rather  dry  open  woods.  On  the  dry, 
rocky  uplands  of  the  counties  in  the  middle  part  of  the  State,  a 
considerable  part  of  the  second  growth  is  composed  of  this  species. 
Trees  over  3  feet  in  diameter  are  generally  not  sound  at  the  heart. 
Coppice  shoots  are  very  abundant  around  the  stumps  of  smaller 
trees.     This  tree  is  sensitive  to  late  frosts. 

The  leaves  are  divided  into  3  to  5  prolonged,  mostly  narrow, 
bristle-tipped  lobes,  and  are  downy  on  the  lower  surface.  The 
short-stemmed  fruit  consists  of  a  small  globose  acorn  half  enclosed 
in  a  somewhat  top-shaped  cup.  The  light  brown  winter-buds  are 
covered  with  a  light  reddish  down.  The  Spanish  oak  has,  in 
addition  to  many  deeply  penetrating  lateral  roots,  numerous  long 
superficial  running  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  hard,  strong,  not  durable,  coarse- 
grained, and  checks  badly  in  drying;  light  red  in  color  ;  the  sap- 
wood  lighter.  It  is  used  for  cooperage,  construction,  and  very 
largely  for  fuel.  The  bark  is  rich  in  tannin.  A  large  amount  of 
Spanish  oak  timber  is  still  standing  in  the  Piedmont  plateau 
region,  where  it  is  one  of  the  most  common  trees. 

Quercus  marilandica,  Muenehhausen.* 
(black-jack  oak.) 

A  small  tree,  with  rough  black  bark,  and  drooping  irregular 
branches,  reaching  a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  '2  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Long  Island,  New  York,  to  Wisconsin,  southern 
Miniicsota,  eastern  Nebraska,  Kansas,  and  Indian  Territory,  and 
south  to  Florida  and  Texas;  reaching  its  l)est  development  in 
southern  Arkansas,  and  eastern  Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  has  an  average  height  of  not  more 
than  25  feet,  it  is  found  upon  barren  clay  or  loam  soils,  gravelly 
for  the  most  ])art.  It  occurs  in  all  sections,  but  is  rare  in  the  more 
elevati'd  mountain  counties. 

It  bears  fruit  plentifully  about  every  other  year;  and  seedlings 
are  abnndaiit    near  the  parent  trees  and  in  second  growth  woods. 

The  large  thick  wedge-shaped  leaves  are  smooth  on  the  upper 
and  covered  with   a  rusty  pubescence  on  the   lower  surface.      The 

*Querciis  niijra,  Liniueus. 


C     GEOLOGICAI.  STRVEY 


BI'LLKTIN   fi,      PLATE   X. 


WATER     OAK 


WATER    OAK. 


105 


small  globular  aconi  is  half  enclosed  in  a  top-shaped,  coarse- 
scaled  cup.  The  conical,  hright  brown  winter-buds  are  covered, 
like  the  angular  twigs,  with  a  light  gray  down.  The  buds  are 
frequently  injured  by  late  frosts.  The  black-jack  oak  has  a  lateral 
root  system. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  and  strong,  and  checks  l)adly  in  dry- 
ing; dark  red-brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  much  lighter.  It  is 
little  used  except  for  fuel; 

Quercus  nigra,  LinnfPus.* 

(WATER    OAK.) 


A  small  tree,  with  a  large  spreading  top,  dark  rough  bark  at 
the  base  of  the  stem  and  smoother  gray  bark  al)Ove,  reaching  a 
height  of  80  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet.     (Plate  X.) 

It  occurs  from  Delaware  through  the  coast  and  middle  districts 
to  Florida  and  Texas,  and  westward  to  Missouri  and  Indian  Ter- 
ritory ;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the  maritime  pine  belt 
of  the  eastern  Gulf  states.      A  common  tree. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  40  to  50 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  12  to  20  inches,  it  is  abundant  on 
moist  soil,  usually  bordering  swamps  and  streams,  in  the  coastal 
plain  region  and  some  parts  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region. 
(Fig.  27.) 


MAP  OF 
>ORTH    CAKOLIN^. 


LEGEND 

Distribution  of  the  WATER  OAK 

(Quercus  nigra,  L.) 


It  is  one  of  the  commonest  trees  on  the  oak  Hats  about  the  swamps 
of  the  coastal  plain. 

*Quercus  aquatica,-  Walter. 


106  TlitBER    TKEES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

The  larger,  crown-forining  limbs  are  often  broken,  and  the  stent 
is  very  frequently  hollow  or  red-hearted.  The  trntik  is  apt  to  be 
covjred  with  adventitious  shoots.  Even  large  trees  send  up 
numerous  sprouts  from  the  stump.      The  growth  is  generally  rapid. 

The  leaves  are  generally  deciduous,  although,  on  the  coast,, 
many  remain  green  during  the  winter,  especially  on  vigorous 
shoots.  They  are  thick,  smooth,  narrowed  at  the  base,  and 
rounded,  or  3-lobed  and  I)ristle  tipped  at  the  extremity.  The  small 
globular-ovoid  acorn  is  ser  in  a  very  shallow  cup.  The  winter- 
buds  are  small  and  conical,  upon  slender  flexible  polished  brown 
twigs.      The  lateral  sui)erlicial  roots  are  large  and  well  developed. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  coarse-grained,  and  compact; 
rather  light  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  used  only 
as  fuel. 

Quercus  laurifolia,  Michaux. 

(laurel  oak.      water  oak.      willow  oak.      i'In   oak. 
turkey  oak.) 

A  tree,  with  dark  brown  minutely  roughened  bark,  and 
smoother  and  lighter  1)ranchcs  which  tbrm  an  oval  crown,  reach- 
ing a  height  of  100  and  a  diameter  of  -1  feet. 

It  occurs  from  North  Carolina  southward  near  the  coast  to 
Mosquito  Inlet  and  Cape  Romano,  Florida,  and  along  the  Gulf 
coast  to  Mobile  l)ay  ;  reaching  its  he^t  development  on  the  Flor- 
ida ('oast.      A  very  common  tree. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  60  to  TU  and 
a  diameter  of  :^  feet,  it  is  found  on  sandy  loam  in  the  coastal  |)lain 
region  on  oak  flats  bordering  swam])s,  and  in  the  Piedmont  ]>lar- 
eau  usually  on  damp  S(jils  along  streams.      (Fig.  25,  p.  10 1.) 

It  bears  fruit  plentifully  once  in  8  or  4  years,  and  in  the 
coastal  plain,  in  moist  open  woods,  seedlings  are  abundant. 

The  leaves  are  thick,  smooth,  and  rounded  at  each  end.  The 
small  globose  or  sliglitly  oval  dark  l)i'own  acorns  are  set  in  some- 
what pointed  very  short  stemmed  cups.  The  twigs  are  smooth, 
slender,  and  dark  brown,  th^  buds  pointed  and  lighter  colored. 
The  numerous  lateral  roots  generally  do  not  penetrate  very  dee]dy 
into  the  soil. 


UPLAND    WILLOW    OAK.        TUKKEY    OAK.        BLUE    .JACK.  107 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  strong;,  hard,  coarse-grained,  and 
inclined  to  check  in  drying  ;  dark  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood 
lighter.  It  is  sometimes,  althongh  rarely,  nsed  for  clapboards 
and  coarse  staves. 

^  Quercus  brevifolia   Sargent."- 

(upland    willow     oak".        TURKEY     OAK.        liLUE    .TACK.) 

A  small  tree,  with  large  oval  crown,  rongh  .dark  gray  bark,  and 
slender  drooping  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  .5<»  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  18  tu  2<»  inches. 

It  occurs  on  sandy  l)arrens  and  dry  ridges  from  North  Carolina 
near  the  coast  to  Cape  Malabar  and  Pease  creek,  Florida,  and 
westward  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  eastern  Texas. 

In  this  State,  where  it  has  an  average  height  of  30  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  10  inches,  it  is  found  in  the  pine  barrens  of  the 
coastal  plain  region.  Immediately  along  the  coast  it  sometimes 
reaches  a  larger  size. 

It  bears  fruit  abundantly  and  at  frei^uent  intervals,  and  seed- 
lings and  young  trees  are  common  on  the  dry  pine  barrens. 

The  oblong  entire  leaves  are  bristle-tipped  and  covered  with  a 
white  down  on  the  lower  surface.  About  one-third  of  the  small 
globose  hoary  acorn  is  covered  by  a  stemless  shallow  cup.  The 
winter-buds  are  small  and  oval. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  close-grained,  and  compact  ; 
light  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  darker.  It  is  used  only  for 
fuel.      The  bark  yields  a  tine  yellow  dye. 

Quercus  imbricaria.  Michanx. 
(shingle  oak.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  dark  gray,  rough  or  rather  smooth  bark, 
and  smooth,  light  gray  branches  which  form  a  large  spreading  top, 
reaching  a  height  of  100  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Pennsylvania  westward  to  western  Missouri  and 
northeastern  Kansas,  and  south  to  northern  Georgia  and  Alabama, 

*(,)uercus  eiiierea,  Mk-haux. 


108 


TIMBER    TBEES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


middle  Tennessee,  and  northern  Arkansas  ;  reaching  its  best  devel- 
opment in  the  basin  of  the  Ohio  river. 

In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  40  to  50  feet 
and  an  average  diameter  of  12  to  15  inches,  it  is  confined  to  the 
mountains  and  western  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau,  where  it  is 
usually  found  along  streams  on  alluvial  loams.     (Fig.  28.) 


MAP   OF 

NORTH    CAKOLIN  V 


LEGEND 

Distribution  of  the  SHINGLE  OAK 
(Quercus  imbricaria,  Michx.) 


Distribution  of  the  WILLOW  OAK 
(Quercus  phellos,  L.) 


Seed  years  are  frequent  and  young  seedlings  are  common,  near 
the  parent  tree,  on  moist  valley  lands  in  the  mountains. 

The  oblong  lance-shaped  leaves  are  entire,  pale  downy  below, 
and  tipped  with  an  abrupt  sharp  point.  The  acorn  is  nearly 
globular  and  about  one-third  to  one-half  enclosed  by  a  cup  which 
is  covered  with  broad  whitish  closely  appressed  scales.  The 
brown  winter-buds  are  acute  and  small-scaled. 

The  M'ood  is  heavy,  hard,  rather  coarse-grained,  and  checks 
badly  in  drying;  light  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  much  lighter. 
It  is  occasionally  used  for  clapboards  and  shingles,  and  in  con- 
struction. 

Quercus  phellos,  Linuajus. 

(willow   oak.) 


A  tree,  with  large  spreading  crown,  rough  dark  brown  bark, 
and  smooth  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  80  and  a  diameter  of 
4  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Staten  Island,  Xew  York,  south  near  the  coast  to 


N.   C.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN   H.      PLATE    Xl 


CHESTNUT 


CHESTNUT.  109 

northeastern  Florida,  tlirougli  the  Gnlf  states  to  eastern  Texas, 
and  through  Arkansas  to  southeastern  Missouri,  Tennessee,  and 
southern  Kentucky. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  50  to  60 
and  an  average  diameter  of  2  feet,  it  occurs  in  large  numbers  in  the 
coastal  plain  region  and,  scatteringly,  in  the  Piedmont  plateau 
region,  in  moist  situations.     (Fig.  28,  p.  108). 

The  willow  oak  forms  a  considerable  portion  of  the  second 
growth  hardwood  forests  on  the  moist  sandy  loams  of  the  coastal 
plain  region  and  young  trees  are  common  along  the  streams  of  the 
Piedmont  plateau.  Young  trees  sprout  vigorously  from  the 
stump. 

The  leaves  are  narrow,  lance-shaped,  pointed  at  each  end,  thick, 
entire  or  nearly  so,  and  downy  when  young.  The  acorns  are  small, 
globose,  and  set  in  a  shallow  flattened  cup.  The  buds  are  small, 
pointed,  smooth,  and  light  brown  ;  the  twigs  slender.  The  willow 
oak  has  numerous  spreading  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  strong,  not  hard,  rather  close-grained,  com- 
pact ;  light  brown  in  color  tinged  with  red  ;  the  sapwood  a  lighter 
red.  It  it  somewhat  used  for  the  felloes  of  wheels,  clapboards, 
and  in  construction. 

Castanea  dentata,  Boi-khausen. 
(chestnut.) 

A  very  common  large  and  valuable  tree,  with  deeply  furrowed 
dark  gray  bark,  and  sm6oth  light  gray  branches  which  form  a 
large  spreading  crown,  reaching  a  height  of  120  and  a  diameter 
of  13  feet.     (Plate  XL) 

It  occurs  from  southern  Maine,  southern  Ontario,  and  southern 
Michigan,  southward  to  Delaware  and  middle  Tennessee,  and 
along  the  Appalachian  mountains  to  northern  Alabama,  reaching 
its  best  development  on  the  western  slopes  of  the  southern  Alleg- 
hanies. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  is  confined  to  the  mountain  region 
(fig.  29),  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  50  to  70  and  an  average 
diameter  of  5  feet,  but  in  favorable  locations  it  sometimes  attains 
the  largest  dimensions  given  above. 


110 


TIMBEK    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 


Abundant  production  of  seed  occurs  about  every  other  year. 
Young  plants  are  plentiful  in  moderately  open  woods  and  in  old 
fields.     The  young  trees   are   decidedly  light-demanding  and  die 


MAP  OF 

NORTH    CAROLINA 


LEGEND 
Distribution  of  the  CHESTNUT 
(Castanea  tlentata,  Borkh.\ 


Distribution  of  the   CHINQUAPIN 
(Castanea  pumila,  Mill.) 


quickly  in  deep  shade.  Specimens  over  5  feet  in  diameter  are 
generally  unsound.  After  lumbering  a  growth  of  the  same  species, 
together  with  oaks,  (generally  the  white,  scarlet  and  black  oak) 
springs  up.  The  chestnut  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of 
most  second  growth  hardwood  forests  in  the  extreme  western 
counties.  It  sprouts  very  freely  from  the  stump  and  the  shoots 
often  grow  to  be  large  trees.  The  stumps  retain  their  power  of 
sprouting  for  many  years.  The  trunk  is  sometimes  attacked  by 
the  chestnut  borer,  Arliopalus  fulminaus,  Fabricius,  and  the  nuts 
by    the    chestnut  weevil,  Balaninus  caryatrypes,  Boheman. 

The  thin  oblong  leaves  are  straight-veined  and  serrate  with 
coarse  sharp  teeth.  The  yellowish-green  sterile  flowers  are  in 
large  spreading  bunches  of  catkins,  appearing  in  the  middle  of  the 
summer  ;  the  fertile  flowers  are  inconspicuous.  The  fruit  consists 
of  2  or  3  flattened  dark  brown  shining  edible  nuts  enclosed  in  a 
light  brown  prickly  bur.  The  winter-buds  are  small  and  ovate. 
A  tap  root  is  early  developed.  Later,  strong  deeply  seated  lateral 
roots  are  formed. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  coarse-grained,  easily  split, 
very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil,  and  liable  to  check  and 
warp  in  drying;  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It  is  used 
for    cabinet-making,    interior    finish,  railway    ties,    fencing,   and 


BEECfl.  Ill 

posts,  and  is   well  adapted   for   charcoal.     An   extract   from  the 
leaves  is  used  medicinally. 

The  chestnnt  is  very  common  in  the  mountain  counties  of  North 
Carolina  at  an  elevation  of  2,5(»0  to  4,5<Mi  feet,  and  is  sawed 
extensively  for  local  uses. 

Fagus  ferruginea,  Alton. 

(beech.) 

A  tree,  with  round  or  oval  crown,  smooth  light  gray  bark,  and 
delicate  branchlets,  reaching  a  height  of  110  and  a  diameter  of  4 
feet. 

It  occurs  from  No\'a  Scotia  and  northern  Wisconsin,  south  to 
western  Florida  and  eastern  Texas;  reaching  its  best  development 
on  the  bluff  iormations  of  the  lower  Mississippi  basin. 

In  tills  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  iieight  of  50  to  bO  and 
an  average  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  it  is  found  sparing]}'  and  of 
small  size  in  the  coastal  plain  region,  more  commonly  and  of 
larger  growth  in  tlie  Piedmont  plateau,  and  most  abundantly  and 
of  greatest  size  in  the  mountain  region. 

The  beech  bears  seed  ])]entifully  every  4  or  5  years,  or  along 
streams  or  in  sheltered  hollows  more  fre(|uent]y.  Young  seedlings 
are  common  in  damp  shady  woods,  especially  above  8,000  feet  ele- 
vation. Towards  the  summits  of  many  high  mountains  it  forms, 
with  l)irch  and  sugar  maple,  nearly  the  entire  growth.  The  young 
trees  are  capable  of  enduring  deej)  shade. 

The  leaves  are  thin,  smooth,  and  straight-veined,  each  vein  end- 
ing in  a  large  tooth.  The  sterile  flowers  occnr  in  small  heads 
u])on  drooping  silky  stems,  and  the  fertile  flowers  are  often  in 
[)airs  on  the  summit  of  short  stalks.  The  fruit  consists  of  a  prickly 
l)ur.  enclosing  two  triajigular  sharp-ridged  edible  nuts.  The 
brown  winter-buds  are  long,  slender,  and  pointed  ;  the  twigs  small 
and  smooth.  The  root  system  consists  of  long  superficial  roots 
which  are  frequently  exposed. 

The  wood  is  very  hard,  strong,  tough,  very  close-grained,  not 
durable  in  contact  with  the  soil,  and  inclined  to  check  in  drying; 


112  TIMBER  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

dark  or  lighter  red  in  color;  the  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  takes 
a  beautiful  polish,  and  is  used  for  cliairs,  shoe-lasts,  plane-stoeks, 
handles,  and  for  fuel.  The  bark  is  sometimes  used  for  tannings 
and  a  valuable  oil  is  derived  from  the  nuts.  The  wood  is  little 
used  in  North  Carolina  except  for  fuel. 

Ostrya  virginica,  Willtlenow. 
(hop  hornbeam,     iron  wood.) 

A  small  tree,  with  smooth  dark  brown  branches,  brownish  finely 
furrowed  bark,  and  an  oval  head,  reacliing  a  height  of  50  and  a 
diameter  of  2  feet. 

It  occurs  from  the  Bay  of  Clialeur  to  northern  Minnesota, 
south  to  eastern  Texas,  and  along  the  Appalachian  mountains  and 
Piedmont  region  to  western  Florida;  reaching  its  best  develop- 
ment in   southern  Arkansas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  its  average  height  is  20  to  30  feet, 
it  occurs  only  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  mountain  regions.  In 
rich  spots  near  the  summits  of  some  of  the  high  mountains,  at  an 
elevation  of  4,500  to  5,200  feet,  it  forms  small  patches  of  almost 
pure  forest  or  grows  in  mixture  with  the  sugar  maple  and 
service  tree. 

The  hop  hornbeam  bears  seed  at  frequent  intervals.  Small 
trees  sprout  freely  from  the  stump.  Numerous  adventitious 
branches  grow  from  the  trunks  of  older  trees.  It  is  a  slow 
growing  tree  and  can  endure  deep  shade  even  in  youth.  Trees 
over  12  inches  in  diameter  are  very  often  hollow. 

The  thin  leaves  are  oblong-ovate  or  elliptical,  finely  pointed, 
sharply  toothed,  smooth  above  and  somewhat  hairy  beneath.  The 
male  flowers  occur  in  drooping  cylindrical  catkins,  the  female  in 
short  and  slender  ones.  The  fruit  is  hop-like  and  is  made  up  of  from 
12  to  20  seed  vessels  each  containing  one  hard  pointed  nutlet.  The 
prominent  winter-buds  are  dark  brown  and  cone-shaped.  The 
hop  hornbeam  has  a  tap-root  and  deeply  penetrating  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  strong,  hard,  tough,  very  close-grained, 
compact,   light  brown  in   color,  or   often  nearly  white,  like  the 


YELLOW    BIRCH.        BITTER   BIRCH.  1  13 

sapwood.      It  is  used   for  posts,  levers,  mill  cogs,  wedges,  mallets, 
and  the  handles  of  tools. 

Carpinus  caroliniana,  Walter. 

(hornbeam.   IRON  WOOD.   BLUE  BEECH.   WATER  BEECH.) 

A  small  tree,  with  a  short  smooth  dark  bluish-gray  or  slate- 
colored  trunk,  marked  by  irregular  longitudinal  ridges,  smooth 
gray  branches,  and  a  round  or  flat  spreading  crown,  reaching  a 
height  of  50  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Nova  Scotia  to  northern  Minnesota,  southward 
to  central  Florida,  an<i  through  Iowa,  Kansas,  and  Indian  Terri- 
tory to  eastern  Texas  ;  reaching  its  best  development  on  the  west- 
ern slopes  of  the  southern  Appalachian  mountains,  and  in  southern 
Arkansas,  and  in  eastern  Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  25  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  14  inches,  it  is  found  along  water-courses  throughout 
the  State. 

It  bears  seed,  at  least  in  the  Piedmont  plateau,  very  frequently, 
and  young  growth  is  common  along  streams  where  the  trees  stand 
thinly.  The  best  growth  takes  place  under  moderate  cover, 
though  the  tree  adapts  itself  to  a  wide  range  of  light  and  shade. 

The  leaves  are  oblong  or  elliptical,  rounded  at  the  base,  sharply 
toothed,  and  slightly  hairy  on  the  veins  beneath.  The  male 
flowers  are  in  drooping  cylindrical  cafkins.  The  fertile  spikes  are 
terminal,  long-stemmed,  and  6  to  12  flowered.  The  angular  nuts 
are  solitary'  and  at  the  base  of  a  3-lobed  leaf-like  scale.  The  win- 
ter-buds are  small  and  acute  ;  the  twigs  slender.  The  roots  are 
superficial. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  strong,  close-grained,  and  inclined  to 
check  in  drying;  light  brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  nearly 
white.     It  is  used  for  levers,  the  handles  of  tools,  etc. 

Betula  lutea,  F.  A.  Michaux. 

(yellow    BIRCH.       BITTER    BIRCH.) 

A  tree,  with  spreading  branches,  and  silvery  yellow  bark  which 
scales  oft'  in  thin  sheets,  reaching  a  height  of  95  and  a  diameter 
of  4  feet. 


114  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

It  is  common  from  Newfoundland  to  the  western  shores  of  Lake 
Superior  and  Rainy  Lake,  south  through  the  northern  states  to 
Delaware,  and  southern  Minnesota,  and  along  the  Appalachian 
mountains  to  the  high  peaks  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee; 
reaching  its  best  development  in  southern  Canada  and  the  north- 
eastern United  States. 

In  this  State,  where  it  attains  a  height  of  80  to  90  and  a  diam- 
eter of  2  to  3  feet  it  is  coniined  to  the  high  mountains,  where,  in 
damp  woods,  it  is  not  uncommon.      (Fig.  80,  p.  115.) 

Seed  is  produced  abundantly  every  2  or  3  years,  and  young 
trees  are  common  in  damp  shady  woods  at  liigh  elevations.  It 
grows  rapidly  when  the  light  conditions  are  favorable.  Speci- 
mens over  three  feet  in  diameter  are  usually  hollow. 

The  leaves  are  elliptical  or  ovate,  coarsely  toothed,  and  hairy 
on  the  midrib  beneath.  The  male  catkins  are  cylindrical  and 
pendulous  ;  the  female  sliort  and  nearly  erect,  which,  when  mature, 
form  an  egg-shaped  cone,  1?  inches  long,  made  up  of  stiff  tough 
3-lobed  scales  and  containing  winged  seeds.  The  flowers 
appear  in  early  spring  before  the  leaves.'  The  prominent  winter- 
buds  are  smooth  and  conical.  The  undeveloped  male  catkins  are 
formed  in  the  fall  and  are  conspicuous  during  the  winter.  The 
yellow  birch  has  a  tap-root,  which  usually  forks  and  takes  a  lat- 
eral, direction,  and  several  strung   lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  strong,  hard,  very  close-grained,  com- 
pact ;  light  brown  in  color  ;  the  heavier  sap  wood  nearly  white. 
It  takes  a  beautiful  polish,  and  is  used  for  furniture,  veneering, 
button  and  tassel-moulds,  spools,  pill  and  match  boxes,  the  hubs 
of  wheels,  flooring,  and  fuel. 

Betula  nigra,  Linnnjus. 
(river   birch,      red  birch,      black   birch.) 

A  tree,  with  a  short  trunk,  a  large,  spreading  top,  reddish- 
brown  furrowed  bark  on  the  stem,  and  on  the  branches  reddish- 
white  bark  which  separates  in  thin  papery  layers,  reaching  a 
height  of  80  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  in  moist  situations  from  Massachusetts  southward 
through  the  coast  and   middle   districts  to  western   Florida,  and 


CHERRY     BIRCH.        BLACK     BIRCH. 


115 


westward  to  western  Iowa  and  eastern  Texas;  reac-hino;  its  best 
development  in  the  south  Atlantic  states  and  the  l)asin  of  the 
lower  Mississippi  river. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  40  to  60 
and  an  average  diameter  of  1  to  2  feet,  it  is  found  along  streams 
and  on  the  borders  of  swamps  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains. 
(Fig.  30.) 


MAP  OF 

AOKTH   CAKOLINA 


.^  ^:r 


LEGEND 
I  Distnbution  ot   the   RIVER    BIRCH 
I  (Betula  nigra,  L.) 

I  Distribution  of  the  CHERRY   BIRCH 
I  (Betula  lenta,  L.) 

Distribution  of  the  YELLOW  BIRCH 
( Betula  lutea,  AfMx.  /. ) 


It  bears  seed  at  frequent  intervals,  and  young  growth  is  com- 
mon on  alluvial  soil  near  the  edges  of  fields  and  along  streams. 
Young  trees  when  cut  send  up  numerous  sprouts. 

The  leaves  are  acute  at  each  end,  doublj-tootlied,  bright  green 
above,  and  glaucous  beneath  when  young.  The  fruit  is  an  oblong 
spike  (with  woolly,  3-lobed  bracts),  containing  tiie  small  rather 
broadly-winged  seeds.  The  river  birch  matures  its  seed  early  in 
summer.  The  winter-buds  are  oval  and  dark  brown  ;  the  twigs 
brown,  and  downy  when  young.  The  root  system  consists  of 
deeply  penetrating  lateral  and  running  roots. 

The  wood  is  light,  rather  hard,  strong,  close-grained  and  com- 
pact;  brown  in  color:  the  sapwood  luuch  lighter.  It  is  used  fur 
furniture,  woodenware,  wooden  sho(S,  ox  yokes,  etc.,  and  cask 
hoops  of  inferior  quality  are  made  from  the  branches. 


Betula  lenta,  Linnfeus. 

(cherry     BIRCH.        BLACK     BIRCH.) 

A  tree,  with    reddish-brown   rouo;ji    bark   on    old   trees,  smooth 


116  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

dark  bark  which  resembles  that  of  the  cherry  on  the  branches  and 
on  young  trees,  and  a  large  oval  crown,  reaching  a  height  of  80 
and  a  diameter  of  5  feet.     (Plate  XII.) 

It  occurs  from  Newfoundland  and  the  valley  of  the  Saguenay 
river  westward  through  Ontario  to  the  islands  of  Lake  Huron, 
southward  to  northern  Delaware  and  southern  Indiana,  and  along 
the  Alleghany  mountains  to  western  Florida,  and  westward  to 
middle  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  60  to 
80  and  an  average  diameter  of  2  to  2J  feet,  it  is  confined  to  the 
mountains.     (Fig.  30,  p.  115.) 

It  produces  seed  once  in  3  or  4  years.  Young  seedlings,  which 
are  common  in  damp  cool  woods,  are  short  lived  if  very  heavily 
shaded.  Old  specimens,  over  2  feet  in  diameter,  are  often 
unsound.      Young  trees  sprout  from  the  stump. 

The  ovate  or  oblong-ovate  leaves  are  finely  pointed,  heart- 
shaped  at  the  base,  and  sharply  and  irregularly  toothed.  The 
fruit  is  cylindrical  or  elliptical,  with  rounded  ends,  1  to  li  inches 
long,  and  made  up  of  small  closely  set  scales.  The  buds  are  con- 
ical and  pointed.  The  cherry  birch  has  a  superficial  root  system, 
although  in  young  growth  there  is  a  prominent  tap-root. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  very  strong  and  hard,  close-grained,  com- 
pact ;  dark  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  light  l)rown  or  yellow. 
It  takes  a  beautiful  polish,  and  is  used  for  furniture  and  fuel,  and 
in  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  for  shipbuilding.  Birch  beer 
is  made  from  the  sap  of  this  species.  In  some  parts  of  North 
Carolina  considerable  quantities  of  cherry  birch  have  been  cut 
for  lumber. 

Salix  nigra,  Marshall. 

(willow,      black  willow,      river  willow.) 

A  small  tree,  M-ith  a  large  oval  crown,  dark  rough  bark  on  the 
trunk,  and  smooth  light  brown  bark  on  the  spreading  branches, 
reaching  a  height  of  50  and  a  diameter  of  2  feet,  or  towards  its 
southeastern  limit  a  mere  shrub. 

It  occurs  along  streams  from  New  Brunswick  and  Lake  Superior 
south  to  Florida  and  Texas,  and  in  the  valleys  of  the  Sacramento 
river,  California,  and  the  Colorado  river,  Arizona. 


J.    C.   GEOIiOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN   6.      PLATP:  XII. 


CHERRY      BIRCH 


POPLAR.       ASPEN.       LARGE-TOOTHED    ASPEN.  117 

In  North  Carolina  it  is  found  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains, 
growing;  on  loamy  soils  along  streams,  and  reaches  a  lieight  of  30 
feet  and  a  diameter  of  15  inches.  It  is  rare  in  the  high  moun- 
tains, but  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  is  much  more  abundant. 

Seed  is  borne  abundantly  and  at  frequent  intervals,  and  seed- 
lings are  common  on  bottom  lands.  Trees  of  all  sizes  sprout  from 
the  stump.  It  is  easily  propagated  from  cuttings.  The  smaller 
branches  and  twigs  are  often  injured  by  a  saw  liy,  Cimbex 
americana. 

The  leaves  are  narrow,  lance-shaped,  toothed  and  tapering  at 
the  ends.  The  flowers  appear  in  early  spring  in  drooping  catkins, 
the  male  and  female  on  separate  trees.  The  fruit  is  a  pendulous 
catkin,  made  up  of  small  capsules  containing  minute  seeds  which 
are  clothed  with  long  silky  hairs.  The  roots  are  very  fibrous  and 
tough.  The  light,  coarse  grained  wood  is  soft,  not  strong,  and 
brov.-n  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  much  lighter.  The  bark  is  some- 
times used  niedicinally. 

Populus  grandidenta,  Michaux. 
(poplar,      aspen,      large-toothed   aspen.) 

A  tree,  with  a  short  body,  jjyramidal  crown,  and  rather  smooth 
gray  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  SO  and  a  diameter  of  2h  feet. 

It  occurs  in  moist  situations  from  N^ova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick westward  through  Ontario  to  northern  Minnesota,  south 
through  the  northern  states,  and  along  the  Appalachian  moun- 
tains to  North  Carolina,  extending  westward  to  middle  Kentucky, 
and  Tennessee. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  10  feet  and 
an  average  diameter  of  12  inches,  it  is  found  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  Piedmont  plateau,  but  is  not  very  common. 

Although  it  bears  seed  frequently,  young  seedlings  are  uncom- 
mon. The  rate  of  growth  is  uniformly  rapid.  The  trunk  is 
attacked  by  several  borers  and  the  leaves  are  often  stripped 
oft*  by  caterpillars. 

The  leaves,  which  are  borne  on  slender  flattened  stems  are 
roundish,  with  5  to  9  large  blunt  teeth  on  each  side.      The  flowers 


118  TIMBEK    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA, 

appear  before  the  leaves  in  spring  in  drooping  cylindrical  catkins, 
the  sterile  and  fertile  on  separate  individuals.  The  fruit  is  a 
catkin  consisting  of  small  dry  capsules  with  minute  seeds,  coated 
with  cottony  down.      The  buds  are  conical  and  slightly  downy. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  close-grained,  and  compact; 
light  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for 
wood  ]Milp,  and  occasionally  for  turner}^  and  woodenware. 

Populns  heterophylla,  Linnsus. 

(UOTTONWOOD.) 

A  rare  and  local  tree,  with  oval-oblong  crown,  dark  gray  bark, 
and  lighter  colored  branches,  reaching  a  height  of  90  and  a  diam- 
eter of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  on  the  Ijorders  of  river  swamps  from  Connecticut,  gen- 
erally near  tlie  coast,  to  Georgia  and  western  Louisiana,  and  in 
Arkansas,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Illinois,  and  I)idiana,  reaching 
its  best  development  in  the  basin  of  the  lower  Ohio  river. 

In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  TO  to  80 
feet,  it  is  found  in  the  rich  swamp  lands  of  the  lower  Cape  Fear 
river,  and  probably  elsewhere. 

The  leaves  are  ovate,  serrate  with  blunt  incurved  teeth,  and 
downy  on  the  veins  beneath. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  close-grained,  compact ;  dull 
brown  in  color  ;   the  thick  sapwood  lighter. 

Populus  monilifera,  Aiton. 

(CAROLINA     POPLAR.        CAROLINA     OOTTONWCOD.) 

A  large  tree,  with  dark  brown  rough  bark  and  oval  crown, 
reaching  a  height  of  170  and  a  diameter  of  8  feet. 

It  occurs  from  Vermont  to  Florida,  and  westward  to  Montana, 
Colorado,  and  New  Mexico,  growing  in  low  moist  soil.  It  is  com- 
mon in  the  West. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  60  to  70 
feet,  it  is  rare,  ard  is  found  in  the  Piedmont  plateau. 

It  bears  seed  frequently  in   North  Carolina  but  never  abund- 


WHITE    CEDAR.       JUNIPER.  119 

antly.  Youn^  trees  are  common  on  bottom  lands  along  streams. 
Stumps  over  18  inches  in  diameter  sprout'freely  in  the  open. 

The  leaves  are  broadly  ovate,  and  serrate  with  large  incurved 
teeth.  The  winter  buds  are  conical,  shining  brown,  and  of  mod- 
erate size.  The  Carolina  poplar  has  numerous  strong  lateral 
roots. 

The  wood  is  very  light,  soft,  not  strong,  close-grained,  com- 
pact, liable  to  warp,  and  hard  to  season  ;  dark  brown  in  color  ; 
the  thick  sapw^ood  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  paper  pulp,  pack- 
ing catecs,  fence  boards,  and  fuel. 

Thuja  occidentalis,  Linn*us. 
(arbor  vit.e.) 

An  evergreen  tree,  of  pyramidal  habit,  with  a  rapidly  tapering 
trunk  furnished  with  numerous  small  branches  at  irregular  inter- 
vals, reaching  a  heiglit  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet,  or  at  its 
soutliern  limits  reduced  to  a  very  small  tree  or  shrub. 

It  occurs  from  New  Brunswick  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  south  to 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Illinois,  and  Minnesota,  and  along  the 
Appalachian  mountains  to  North  Carolina,  growing  on  wet  soil. 
It  is  very  common  in  the  North. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  but  a  shrub  or  small  tree,  it  is  con- 
lined  to  the  mountains. 

The  small  blunt-pointed  or  awl-shaped  leaves  are  thickly  pressed 
along  the  branch  lets  in  4  rows.  The  flowers  are  very  minute. 
The  light  brown  cones  are  f  inch  lon^;,  aiid  each  of  tiie  6  to  12 
oblong  rounded  scales  protects  2  seeds. 

The  wood  is  very  light,  soft,  cot  strong,  brittle,  and  very 
durable  in  contact  with  the  soil;  light  brown  in  color;  the  thin 
sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  fencing,  telegraph  pole?, 
railroad  ties,  and  shinglci^,  and  sometimes  for  cabinet  work  and 
building.  An  oil  distilled  from  the  leaves  has  been  used  in  pul- 
monar}^  complaints. 

Cupressus  thyoides,  Linnteus.* 

(white  cedar,     -juniper.) 

A    slender    evergreen    tree,    witli     numerous    short    spreading 

*ChamfBcyparis  spheroid ea,  8pach 


120 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


branches  which  cover  the  greater  part  of  tlie  trunk  and  form  a 
conical  head,  and  reddish-brown  deeply  furrowed  or  loose  bark 
reaching  a  height  of  90  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet. 

It  occurs  in  deep  cold  swamps  from  Maine  along  the  coast  to 
northern  Florida  and  Mississippi,  and  is  rare  west  of  Mobile  bay. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  40  and  an 
average  diameter  of  2  feet,  it  grows  in  wet  sandy,  often  peaty, soils 
in  the  coastal  plain  region,  extending  westward  to  Wake  and  Anson 


MAP  OF 
NORTH   CAROLINA 


MOUNTAtN 


COASTAL  PLAIN   I 


LEGEND 

t-JJ;]  Distribution  of  the  PITCH  PINE 
til-i  (Piniis  rigida,  /I////.) 

1=1  Distribution   of   the   WHITE    CEDAR    or 
^^       JUNIPER 

(Cupressus  thyoides,  L.) 


counties.  (Fig.  31 )  It  frequently  occurs  in  pure  forest^  or  with 
the  white  bay,  or  s<'attered  in  small  clumps,  in  cypress  and  gum 
swamps. 

The  juniper  bears  seed  very  plentifully  nearly  every  year. 
Seedlings  are  common  near  the  parent  trees,  but  usually  die  under 
deep  shade.  Fire  is  very  destructive  to  trees  of  all  ages,  and 
extensive  areas  of  valuable  timber  have  been  burned,  particularly 
in  the  Dismal  Swamp.  In  many  swamps  large  quantities  of  fallen 
trees,  sound  and  lit  for  lumber,  lie  buried  at  various  depths. 

The  leaves  are  very  small,  ovate-pointed,  awl-shaped,  and 
closely  appressed  in  4  rows.  The  male  and  female  flowers  are 
separate  but  on  the  same  plant  ;  the  male  catkins  cylindrical,  the 
female  globose.  The  cones  are  very  small  and  globular,  with 
thick  scales  bearing  2  or  more  seeds  at  the  base.  The  juniper,  at 
least  in  peaty  swamps,  has  a  poorly  developed  tap-root  or  none  at 
all,  and  long  strong  superficial  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  very  light  and  soft,  not  strong,  close-grained,  com- 


X.   C.   GEOLOGICAL  StTRVEY. 


BttLLETIN  6.      PLATE  Xltl. 


RED     CEDAR 


RED    CEDAR. 


121 


pact,  easily  worked,  and  very  durable  in  contact  with  the  soil  ; 
light  brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwoud  lighter.  It  is  used  for  boat- 
building, woodenware,  cooperage,  shingles,  interior  finish,  tele- 
graph posts,  fence  posts,  railway  ties,  and  in  the  manufacture  of 
lampblack.  Charcoal  for  gunpower  i§  made  from  the  smaller 
trunks. 

The  original  growth,  in  most  accessible  juniper  swamps  of  this 
State,  is  being  rapidly  removed.  There  still  remain,  however, 
large  quantities  in  Dare,  Tyrrell,  and  Gates  counties  and  in  the 
Dismal  Swamp,  which  are  yet  inaccessible. 

Juniperus  virginiana,  Linnaeus. 
(red  cedar.) 

An  evergreen  tree,  with  pyramidal  head,  numerous  crowded 
drooping  branches,  and  dark  l)ro\vn  shaggy  bark,  reaching  a  height 
of  100  and  a  diameter  of  6  feet,  or  at  its  northern  and  western 
limits  often  reduced  to  a  low  shrub.      (Plate  XIII.) 

It  is  one  of  the  most  widely  distributed  North  American  trees, 
and  occurs  iii  all  parts  of  the  United  States  except  western  Texas, 
California,  and  Oregon  ;  reaching  its  best  development  in  the 
valley  of  the  Red  river,  Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  wiiere  it  grows  to  an  average  height  of  30 
to  40  feet,  and  an  average  diameter  of  10  to  13  inches,  it  is  found 


througliout,  but  is  rare  and   of  small   size  in   the   high   mountain 
counties.      (Fig.  32.) 


122  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

The  red  cedar  bears  seed  abundantly  nearly  every  year.  Yonng 
trees  frequently  tbrni  a  large  part  of  the  growth  on  dry  rocky 
fields  and  hillsides,  particularly  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  region. 
Young  growth  is  often  overtopped  and  crowded  out  by  faster 
groM'ing  pines  and  oaks,  tftthough  it  can  live  in  deep  shade  for  a 
long  time.  Small  specimens  are  very  sensitive  to  fire.  It  is  very 
free  from  the  attacks  of  insects  and  from  all  fungal  diseases. 

•The  leaves  are  small,  entire,  scale-like,  and  sharp-pointed  or 
obtuse.  The  flowers  are  small  and  inconspicuous,  and  the  fruit  is 
a  small  ovate  smooth  berry,  dark  purple,  and  covered  with  a  glau- 
cous bloom.  On  deep  loamy  soil  the  red  cedar  has  a  well  devel- 
oped tap-root  and  numerous  deeply  seated  lateral  roots. 

The  wood  is  liglit,  soft,  not  strong,  brittle,  very  close  and 
straiglit-grfiined,  con)pact,  easily  worked,  and  durable  in  contact 
with  the  soil  ;  dull  red  in  color;  the  thin  sapwood  nearly  white. 
It  is  used  for  posts,  sills,  railroad  ties,  interior  finish,  cabinet 
making,  woudenware,  and  for  lead  ])eiicils  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
other  woods.  Tlie  wood  is  odorous,  and  an  infusion  of  the  ber- 
ries is  used  medicinally. 

Taxodium  distichum,  Richard. 
(cypress,     bald  cypress  ) 

A  large  tree,  of  great  commercial  value,  with  deciduous  leaves, 
a  small  flat  spreading  or  pyramidal  top,  and  deeply  furrowed  or 
loose  reddish-brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  150  and  a  diameter 
of  13  feet. 

It  occurs  ill  wet  situations  from  Delaware  to  Florida  and  Texas, 
and  in  Arkansas,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Illinois,  and  Indiana  ;  reach- 
ing its  best  development  in  the  south  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states. 
It  is  common  and  forms  extensive  forests. 

In  Xorth  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  60  to 
loo  and  an  average  diameter  of  5  to  7  feet  it  occurs  in  the  coastal 
plain  region  (tig.  33),  where  it  is  one  of  the  most  common  trees 
along  streams  and  swamps.  It  is  found  on  a  variety  of  soils  between 
a  heavy  mud-alluvium  and  a  light  sand  or  rarely  on  peaty  soil. 

Although  seed  years  are  frequent,  young  plants  are  not  common. 


WHITE     PINE. 


123 


A  growth   of  gums  usnally  follows  the  cypress  after  lumbering. 
Large  specimens  have  swollen  butts  which  are  often  hollow.     The 


MAP   OF 

XOUT:!   CAr.OLINA 


^        ^v^  -      ,  PltDMONTPLATE, 


Fig.  33 


LEGEND  '-■■ i- 

Distribution  of  the  WHITE  PINE 
(Finns  strobns,  /.) 


FF'"'  Areas  coniair.ing  ir.ernliantable  CYPRESS 
liu'rii  (Taxodiiim  distichum,  Rick^j 


Botanical  distribution  of  tlie  CYPRESS. 


timber  has  frequently  small  hollows  and  rotten  spots  scattered 
through  apparently  sound  logs. 

The  leaves  are  deciduous,  Hat,  linear,  and  in  two  rows  on  the 
slender  branchlets.  The  male  and  female  flow^ers  are  borne  on 
the  same  tree;  the  male  in  drooping  flexible  catkins,  the  female 
in  ovoid  catkins,  singly  or  in  small  clusters.  The  fruit  is  a  small 
dark  brown  globular  cone  with  thick  scales.  There  are  many 
deeply  penetrating  lateral  roots,  and  long  superficial  roots  from 
which  the  "cypress  knees"  grow  to  a  height  of  one  to  four  feet. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  close  and  straight-grained,  not  strong, 
compact,  easily  worked,  and  very  durable  in  contact  with  the 
soil;  light  or  dark  brown  in  color;  the  sapwood  nearly  white. 
The  lumber  is  known  commercially  in  two  varieties,  the  black  and 
white  cy).ress,  .of  which  the  former  is  heavier,  harder,  and  more 
durable.  It  is  used  for  construction,  cooperage,  railroad  ties, 
fencing,  shingles,  water  pipes,  and  interior  finish. 

Mu(;h  of  the  cypress  has  been  removed  along  the  larger  streams 
and  fr  )m  the  more  accessible  swamps  in  the  northeastern  counties 
for  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  shingles.  Large  quantities,, 
however,  are  still  standing  in  the  State. 

Pinus  strobus,  Linnaeus. 

(W^HITE    PINE.) 

A  large  tree,  of  the  first  commercial  importance,  with  horizontal 


124  TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

branches,  and  rough  furrowed  dark  grayish-brown  bark,  reaching 
a  height  of  170  and  a  diameter  of  11  feet.     (Plate  XIY.) 

It  occurs  from  Newfoundland  to  the  Winnipeg  river,  south 
through  the  northern  states  to  Pennsylvania,  Michi2i;an,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  and  along  the  Appalachian  mountains  to  Georgia;  reach- 
ing its  best  development  in  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes. 

In  this  State,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  60  to  TO 
and  an  average  diameter  of  2j  feet,  it  is  confined  to  the  mountains. 
It  grows  for  tlie  most  part  at  an  elevation  of  1,500  to  3,500  feet, 
and  is  found  along  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  scatteringly  in  the  coun- 
ties west  of  it.     (Fig.  33,  p.  123.) 

The  white  pine  bears  seed  at  intervals  of  from  2  to  4  years. 
Seedlings  are  common  in  open  woods,  and  in  old  fields  on  dry 
poor  soil.  It  prefers  a  sandy  loam,  but  is  found  on  clay  and  on 
sand}"  soil.  It  grows  usually  on  rich  land  or  on  high  dry  stony 
ridges,  and  often  forms  large  patches  of  nearly  pure  forest.  The 
growth  is  slow  for  the  first  4  to  7  years,  then  very  rapid  for  40 
to  60  years,  after  which  it  again  grows  slowly.  It  is  a  long-lived 
tree,  sound  specimens  having  been  found  350  or  400  years  old. 
Specimens  under  10  inches  in  diameter  are  sensitive  to  fire. 

In  the  northern  states  the  grub  of  the  pine  borer  or  sawyer, 
Monohamnus  confusor,  Kirby,  attacks  the  sound  timber,  though 
less  frequently  than  that  of  decaying  trees.  The  white  pine 
weevil,  Pissodes  strobi,  Peck,  causes  a  great  deal  of  injury  by 
entering  and  destroying  the  leaders.  This  species  is  also  subject 
to  the  attack  of  the  grubs  of  various  bark  beetles. 

The  leaves  are  soft,  slender,  in  fives.  The  male  catkins  are 
oval,  the  female  long-stalked  and  cylindrical;  the  cones  long, 
narrow,  slightly  curved,  and  tapering  to  a  point.  The  seeds  are 
small,  smooth,  and  ovate,  with  thin  wings  about  1  inch  long. 
The  roots,  which  are  remarkable  for  their  durability,  usually  do 
not  penetrate  deeply  into  the  soil. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  very  close  and  straight- 
grained,  compact,  easily  worked  ;  light  brown  in  color  ;  the  sap- 
wood  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  lumber,  shingles,  laths,  build- 
ing material,  cabinetmaking,  interior  finish,  matches,  wooden- 
ware,  and   domestic  purposes,  and  is    altogether   one   of  the  most 


N.  c.  gp:ological  survey. 


BULLETIN  G.      PLATE  XIV. 


A    GROUP'OF    WHITE    PINES 


N.   C.    GEOLOUICAI>  SUKVEY, 


Kl'I,I.KTIN    (i        I'l.ATE    XV 


A    GROUP   OF    LOBLOLLY    PINES 


LOBLOLLY    PINE.        NOKTH    CAROLINA     PIN2. 


125 


useful  timbers  of  the  United  States.      Its  threatened  exhaustion  is 
therefore  a  serious  matter. 

Pinus  tseda,  Linnteus. 

(loblolly  pine,    old  field  pine,     short-leaf  pine,     swamp  pine, 
slash  pine.      rosemary  pine.     north  carolina  pine.) 

A  lar^e  and  valuable  tree,  with  a  long  clear  stem,  a  large  ovoid 
crown,  and  reddish-brown  bark  divided  into  flat  rectangular 
plates,  reaching  a  height  of  150  and  a  diameter  of  5  feet. 
(Plate  XV.) 

It  occurs  from  Delaware  to  Florida  and  Texas,  generally  near 
the  coast,  and  north  to  the  valley  of  the  Arkansas  river;  reaching 
its  best  development  in  eastern  North  Carolina. 


MAP  OF 

>ORTH    C  VKOLINA 


jiBMS^^ 


"f^^^^'^-'- 


LEGEND 
I  Areas  containinsc  merchantable   timber  of 
I       the  LOBLOLLY  PINE 

(Pinus  taeda,  L.) 

I  Areas  from  which  the  merchantable  timber 
I       of  LOBLOLLY  PINE  has  been  largely 
removed. 


In  this  State  (fig.  34),  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of 
50  to  70,  and  an  average  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet,  it  is  found  on  a 
great  variety  of  soils  and  situations  from  the  sea  level  to  an 
elevation  of  J, 000  feet.  The  original  growth  is  on  moist  deep 
soil,  but  the  second  growth  has  sprung  up  largely  in  old  fields, 
often  replacing  the  long-leaf  pine  on  the  moister  loamy  lands. 

It  bears  seed  generally  every  year,  and  abundantly  once  in  2  or 
3  years,  but  much  of  the  seed  is  imperfect.  Seedlings  are  very 
common  on  rather  moist  soil  in  abandoned  fields.  The  rate  of 
growth,  under  sufficient  light,  is  very  rapid. 

The   slender    light    green  leaves    are    usually    in   threes,    with 


126  *     TIMfJER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

rather  long  close  sheaths.  The  cones  are  ovate-ol)lon2:  and  3  to  4 
inches  long  ;  the  scales  terminate  in  short  rigid  spines.  This 
species  has  a  tap-root  and  many  strong  deeply  penetrating  lateral 
roots. 

The  wood  is  light,  not  strong,  brittle,  very  coarse-grained  and 
not  durable  ;  light  brown  in  color,  the  very  thick  sapwood  orange 
or  often  nearly  white.  It  is  used  for  lumber  and  fuel.  Turpentine 
is  sometimes  obtained  from  this  tree. 

Pinus  rig-ida,  Miller. 
(pitch   pine,      black    pine.) 

A  tree,  with  an  oblong  crown,  spreading  branches,  a  cylindri- 
cal, and  often  crooked  stem,  and  rather  flaky  dark  reddish-brown 
bark,  reaching  a  height  of  SO  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  from  New  Brunswick  to  the  northern  shores  of  Lake 
Ontario,  south  through  the  Atlantic  states  to  northern  Georgia, 
and  westward  to  West  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  A  very  common 
tree. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  .50  to  70 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  18  to  24  inches,  it  is  found  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region  and  in  the  moun- 
tain connties  south  of  the  French  Broad  river.  (Fig.  31,  p.  120.) 
It  grows  on  dry,  often  sandy  or  gravelly  ridges,  mixed  with  the 
short-leaf  and  scrub  pines. 

It  produces  seed  often  and  in  abundance,  and  the  seedlings, 
which  require  a  good  deal  of  light,  are  common  in  dry  open  situ- 
ations, and  in  old  fields.  Young  trees  sprout  from  the  stump  to 
some  extent,  but  the  sprouts  are  short-lived.  The  resistance  of 
the  pitch  pine  to  fire  is  exceptionally  great. 

The  rigid  flattened  leaves  are  usually  in  threes,  from  short 
sheaths,  and  3  to  5  inches  long.  The  cones  are  ovate  and  from  2 
to  nearly  4  inches  long,  the  scales  armed  with  a  short  recurved 
spine. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  brittle,  and  coarse-grained  ; 
light    brown   or  red   in   color;   the  thick  sapwood  yellow  or  often 


X.  C.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN  b.      PLATE  XYI. 


POND  OR  SAVANNAH  PINE 


POND    PINE.       SAVANNA    PINE. 


12i 


nearly   white.      It   is  used   for  fuel,  charcoal,  and   coarse  lumber, 
It  has  been  sparinscly  cut  for  luuil)er  in  North  Carolina. 


Pinus  serotina.  Michaux. 

(pond    PINE.        SAVANNA     PINE.        SWAMP     PINE.        POCOSIN    PINE.) 

A  small  tree,  with  a  short  cylindrical  trunk,  numerous  short 
branches,  and  smooth  dark  brown  bark  broken  into  rectangular 
plates,  reaching  a  lieiglit  of  SO  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet.  (Plate 
XXL) 

It  occurs  on  low  peaty  or  wet  sandy  soils  of  the  worst  quality, 
from  North  Carolina  to  Florida,  near  the  coast. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  40  to  50 
feet,  it  is  common  in  the  small  swamps  of  the  coastal  plain,  and 


is  occasionally  found  in  the  Piedmont  plateau  region.  (Fig.  35.) 
It  bears  seed  frequently,  and  yi»ang  growth  is  common  on  wet 
soil  near  old  trees  and  mixed  with  the  second  growth  of  loblolly 
pine.  A  great  deal  of  the  seed  will  not  germinate.  It  is  more 
sensitive  to  lire  than  tlie  loblolly  pine.  Old  specimens  are  often 
hollow  or  red-hearted. 

The  leaves  are  in  threes,  5  to  8  inches  long,  somewhat  shorter 
and  from  shorter  sheaths  than  those  of  the  loblolly  pine.  The 
cones  frequently  remain  on  the  tree  several  years  before  dropping 
their  seed.  They  are  round  ovate,  2  to  3  inches  long,  with  scales 
rounded  at  the  apex  and  have  a  small  weak  prickle. 


128 


TIMBER    TREES    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 


The  wood  is  heavy,  soft,  not  stronir,  brittle,  coarse-grained  ; 
dark  orange  in  color;   the  thi(;k  sapwood   pale  yellow. 

In  some  sections  of  the  State  the  pond  pine  is  manufactured 
into  lumber  with  the  loblolly,  from  which  it  is  not  distinguished 
commercially. 

Pinus  virginiana,  Miller.* 
(jersey  pine,      cedar  pine,      spruce  pine,      scrub  pine.) 

A  slender  tree,  with  a  short  stem,  very  numerous  limbs  which 
form  an  open  oval  or  conical  crown,  and  red-brown  frequently 
scaly  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  120  and  a  diameter  of  3  feet. 

It  occurs  from  New  York,  generally  near  the  coast,  to  Georgia, 
and  westward  to  Kentucky,  and  Indiana  ;  reaching  its  best  devel- 
opment west  of  the  Appalachian  mountains. 

In  this  State,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  20  to  40  feet  and  a 
diameter  of  12  to  15  inches,  it  occurs  sparingly  in  the  Piedmont 
plateau  on  gravelly  ridges  with  the  short-leaf  pine,  and  along  the 
foot  and  on  the  spurs  of  the  Blue  Ridge  much  more  abundantly, 
mixed  with  the  white  and  pitch  pines,  or  sometimes  forming 
small  patches  of  pure  foi est.  It  is  also  found  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.     (Fig.  36.) 


Seed  is  produced  plentifully  once  in  2  or  3  years,  and  seedlings 
are  very  common,  particularly  in  old   lields,  together  with  those 

*Pmus  inops,  Alton. 


TABLE    MOUNTAIN    PINE.  129 

of  tlie  short-leaf  pine.      The  rate  of  growth  is  very  rapid,  but  the 
tree  is  short-lived. 

The  leaves  are  short,  2^  to  8  inches  long,  rigid,  in  short  sheaths, 
and  usually  in  twos.  The  cones  are  light  brown,  solitary,  curved, 
and  oblong-conical,  the  scales  armed  with  a  rigid  prickle.  The 
root  system  is  inclined  to  be  somewhat  heart-shaped,  with  a  well 
developed  tap-root. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  brittle,  close-grained  and 
durable ;  light  orange  in  color  ;  the  thick  sapwood  nearly  white. 
It  is  used  for  fuel,  water  pipes,  and  pump  logs.  In  North  Caro- 
lina it  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  charcoal,  and  to  some  extent 
for  fencing. 

Pinus  pungens,  Michaux. 

(table    mountain    PINE.) 

A  tree,  with  rough  reddish-brown  bark  and  a  large  spreading 
crown,  reaching  a  height  of  60  and  a  diameter  of  3j  feet. 

It  occurs  along  the  Alleghany  mountains  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Tennessee,  where  it  reaches  its  best  development.  A  common 
tree,  sometimes  forming  pure  forest. 

In  North  Carolina  it  attains  an  average  height  of  30  to  50  feet, 
and  an  average  diameter  of  12  to  20  inches,  and  is  found  only 
along  the  Blue  Eidge  and  the  ranges  immediately  eastward  on 
the  driest,  most  barren  ridges,  usuallj^  associated  with  the  pitch 
pine,  and  the  chestnut  and  scarlet  oaks.  It  is  most  abundant  in 
the  southeastern  parts  of  Macon  and  Jackson  counties.  (Fig.  36, 
p.  128.) 

It  bears  seed  abundantly  ;  seedlings  are  common  in  open  woods 
near  the  old  trees,  and  in  abandoned  fields. 

The  leaves  are  2  to  2h  inches  long,  stout,  and  generally  in  twos. 
The  light  yellow  very  compact  cone,  3  inches  long  and  2  inches 
broad  at  the  base,  has  very  broad  strong  sharp  spines,  1-6  inch 
long,  bent  toward  the  top  of  the  cone. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  brittle,  coarse-grained ;  light 
brown  in  color;  the  thick  sapwood  nearly  wjiite.  It  is  used  for 
charcoal  and  to  some  extent  in  construction. 


9 


13(1 


TIMBER    TREEB    OF     NORTH     CAROLINA. 


Pinus  echinata,  Millei-.* 
(short-leaf  pine,      yellow  pine,      spruce  pine,      rosemary  pine. 

HEART   pine.) 

A  tree  of  coniHiercial  importance,  with  a  loiiii;  clear  stem,  a 
broad  oval  ciown,  and  hrownisli-red  hark  l)roken  into  rectangular 
plates,  reaching-  a  height  of  1(M>  and  a  diameter  of -ii  feet. 

It  occurs  from  New  York  to  Florida  and  Texas,  through  Arkan- 
sas to  Indian  Territory,  Kansas,  and  Missouri,  and  in  Illinois; 
reaching  its  best  development  in  Louisiana,  Arkansas  and  Texas. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  grows  to  a  height  of  70  to  90  feet 
and  a  diameter  of  2  to  Sk  feet,  it  is  found  throughout,  and  enters 
into  the  composition  of  most  upland  forests.  It  appears  less  com- 
monly in  the  coastal  j^lain  region,  being  especially  rare  south  of 
the  Neiise  river.     (Fig.  37.) 


Areas  containing  merchantable  milling  tim- 
ber of  the  SHORT-LEAF  PINE 
(Pinus  echinata,  Mi'U.) 

Areas  from  which  the  milling  timber  of 
SHORT-LEAP  PINE  has  been  largely 
removed. 


The  short-leaf  pine  produces  some  seed  annually,  and  bears  abun- 
dantly about  once  in  three  years.  Seedlings  are  common  on  well- 
drained  soil,  occupying  abandoned  fields  and  often  growing  in  mix- 
ture with  the  loblolly  pine.  The  rate  of  growth  in  youth  is  very 
ra]>id.  On  high  exposed  situations  it  is  sometimes  thrown  by  the 
\v  i  n  (1 . 

The  dark  green  slender  leaves  are  usually  in  twos,  from  a  long 
sheatli,  and  3  to  5  inches  long.  The  cone,  smaller  than  that  of 
the   other   North    Carolina   pines,   and   armed    with   slender  short 


*Pinus  mitis,  Micliaux. 


N.    C.   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN  fi.TPLATE  XVII. 


A    GROUP   OF    LONG-LEAF    PINES 


LONG-LEAF    PINE,  131 

spines,  is  rarely  2  inches  lon^'.      It  has  a  strong  tap-root  and  sev- 
eral lateral   roots. 

The  wood  varies  greatlj  in  quality  and  in  the  amount  of  sap- 
wood.  It  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  and  generally  coarse-grained  ; 
orange  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  ninch  used  for 
lumber,  for  which  purpose  it  is  only  inferior  to  that  of  the  long- 
leaf  pine. 

In  the  middle  sections  near  the  railroad  it  has  heen  largely 
removed.  Large  quantities  still  remain,  however,  in  Stanly, 
Cabarrus,  Randolph.  Caswell,  Davidson,  Surry,  Wilkes,  Alexan- 
der, Iredell,  Yadkin,  Cleveland,  Rutherford,  and  Caldwell  coun- 
ties. The  amount  sawed  in  this  State  in  ISd-i  pro])ably  was  be- 
tween .50,000,000  and  60,000,000  feet,  board  measure,  the  larger 
part  of  which  was  for  local  use. 

On  account  of  its  tendency  to  spring  up  in  old  fields  and  open 
woods,  and  rhe  excellent  (quality  of  its  timber,  the  short-leaf  pine 
is  probably  destined  to  assume  very  extensive  economic  importance 
in  the  future. 

Pinus  palustris,  Miller. 

(long-leaf   pine.) 

A  tree  of  the  first  commercial  value,  with  a  long  slender  trunk 
free  from  branches,  a  small  round  bead,  and  thin  l)right  red- 
brown  tliin-scaled  bark,  reachii'g  a  height  of  95  and  a  diameter 
of  4  feet.     (Plate  XVII.) 

It  occurs  from  Virginia  to  Florida  and  Texas,  rarely  beyond 
150  miles  from  the  coast,  and  reaches  its  best  development  in 
northeastern  Texas  on  the  gravelly  uplands  of  the  valleys  of  the 
Sabine  and  Trinity  rivers. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  70 
feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  15  to  20  inches,  it  is  found  (fig. 
3S)  in  pure  forest  from  the  Neuse  river  southward,  occupying  all 
the  Highest  and  driest  sandy  lands  from  the  coast  to  within  a  few 
miles  of  Troy,  in  Montgomery  county,  and  Rockingham,  in  Rich- 
mond county.  Only  along  its  western  limits  does  it  occur  associated 
to  any  extent  with  other  trees.  Thelong-leaf  pine  formerly  extended 
in  an   almost  unbroken   forest  to  Virginia,  but  it  has  been   either 


132 


TIMBER    TREKS    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 


entirely  cut  out  or  so  much  thinned  that  it  is  of  little  commercial 
value  north  of  the  Neuse  liver.  The  loblolly  pine  has  for  the 
most  part  taken  its  place,  except  on  very  dry  and  sterile  soils. 


COASTAL  PLAIN   REGION  _ 


NORTH   CAKOLINA 


LEGEND 
Areas  containing  merchantable  mDling  tim- 
ber of  LONG-LEAF  PINE 

(Pinus  palustris,  Mill.) 

Areas  from  ■which  the  milling  timber  of 
LONG-LEAP   PINE    has    been    largely 

removed. 


I.B.Til.yo.;Co,.!LV. 


The  long-leaf  pine  bears  seed  very  abundantly  only  at  long  and 
irregular  intervals.  A  fair  production  of  seed  occurs  about  once 
in  5  years,  while  in  the  intermediate  years  the  yield  is  small  and 
localized.  After  a  seed  year  the  young  plants  are  very  alnin- 
dant  throughout  the  woods,  but  are  killed  in  large  numbers  either 
by  forest  fires,  by  the  dense  shade,  or  by  swine  rooting  them  up 
to  devour  the  sweet  tender  roots.  Young  trees  are  very  sensitive 
to  fire.  After  the  first  four  or  five  years  trees  in  the  open  grow 
very  rapidly  until  about  15  years  old,  particularly  in  height,  after 
which  time  the  growtli  is  slow.  AYhen  the  long-leaf  pine  is  cut 
or  burned,  and  prevented  from  reproducing  itself  on  account  of 
fires  and  swine,  the  loblolly  pine  often  follows  on  damp  soils,  and 
scrub  oak  or  fork-leaved  black-jack  oak  on   high  dry  sandy  lands. 

The  timber  loss  by'fire  on  long-leaf  pine  lands  in  1893  amounted 
to  not  less  than  $100,000.  At  rare  intervals  extensive  tracts  are 
destroyed  by  bark  beetles.  Scattered  trees  are  injured  in  locali- 
ties where  the  dead  tops  have  been  left  in  the  woods  after  lum- 
bering. Beetles  attack  trees  which  have  been  injured  by  turpen- 
tine operations,  which  often  so  weaken  them  that  many  are  thrown 
by  the  wind.  In  1893  the  losses,  principally  through  this  cause, 
amounted  to  between  ten  and  fifteen  million  feet,  board  measure. 

The  leaves  are  10  to  15  inches  long,  in  threes  from  long  sheaths. 


N.    C.    GEOI.OGICAI.  SURVKY. 


TiT'LI.KTIN   ().      PI.ATE   XVIIT. 


BLACK     SPRUCE 


BLACK  SPRUCE.   HE  BALSAM.   LASH  HORN.   TAMARAC.   133 

and  clustered  on  the  ends  of  the  thick  scaly  branchlets.  They 
remain  on  healthy  trees  about  3  years,  but  on  boxed  trees  only 
about  two.  Tlie  sterile  flowers  are  rose  colored,  appearing  about 
the  lirst  of  April,  and  tlie  large  silky  winter-buds  are  white.  The 
cones  are  light  brown,  cylindrical  or  conical-oblong,  6  to  10 
inches  long,  and  have  thick  scales  armed  with  a  stout  blunt  spine. 
A  tap-root  is  developed  in  early  life  and  is  often  forked.  The 
root  system  of  old  trees' tends  to  be  heart-shaped  with  the  lateral 
roots  penetrating  deeply. 

The  wood  is  heavy,  hard,  strong,  tough,  coarse-grained,  and 
durable;  light  red  or  orange  in  color;  the  thin  sapwood  nearly 
white.  It  is  widely  used  for  construction  of  all  kinds,  interior 
finish,  fencing,  railroad  ties,  etc.  Turpentine,  tar,  pitch,  rosin, 
and  spirits  of  turpentine  are  obtained  almost  exclusively  from 
this  species. 

The  largest  bodies  of  standing  long-leaf  pine  are  in  Moore, 
Montgomery,  Cumberland,  Robeson,  and  Bladen  counties,  and 
probably  not  more  than  50,000  acres  still  remain  unboxed.  Wil- 
mington has  for  a  long  time  been  an  important  centre  for 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  from  this  species,  and  much  has  also 
been  cut  in  tlie  Aberdeen  district  in  Moore  and  Cumberland 
counties. 

Picea  nigra,  Link. 

(black    spruce.        he    balsam.        lash     horn.        TAMARAC.) 

A  tree,  with  spreading  branches  which  form  a  conical  cro\vn,  a 
long  cylindrical  trunk,  and  dark  brown  scaly  bark,  reaching  a 
height  of  90  and  a  diameter  of  4  feet.     (Plate  XVIII.) 

It  occurs  trom  Newfoundland  to  Hudson  bay,  the  mouth  of 
the  Mackenzie  river,  and  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, and  south  through  the  northern  states  to  Pennsylvania, 
Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota,  and  along  the  Appalachian 
mountains  to  North  Carolina. 

In  this  State,  where  it  is  confined  to  the  upper  slopes  of  the 
highest  peaks,  above  an  elevation  of  5,000  feet,  from  Elk  Knob 
in  Ashe  to  Clingman's  Dome  in  Swain  county,  it  forms  pure 
forest    or    toward    the    summits   is  mixed    with    Carolina  fir  and 


134:  TIMBER    TREES    OF     NORTH    CAROLINA. 

beech,  Hr)d  readies  an  average  height  of  40  to  50  feet  and  an 
average  diameter  of  1 5  to  '20  inches.  In  favorable  localities  at 
its  lower  limits,  it  attains  a  height  of  nearly  10(1  and  a  diameter 
of  4  feet. 

It  bears  seed  in  abundance,  in  this  State,  only  at  long  and  irreg- 
ular intervals.  Young  growth,  however,  is  common  in  the  thick 
woods. 

Great  quantities  of  spruce  have  been  destroyed  by  l)ark  beetles, 
notably  in  Maine  and  in  the  Adirondack  mountains  of  New  York. 
A  bud  worm,  Tortrix  fnmiferana,  Chmens,  whicli  attacks  the 
shoots  and  foliage,  is  one  of  its  most  deadly  enemies. 

The  dark  green  needle-shaped  rigid  leaves  aie  scattered  on  all 
sides  of  the  slightly  downy  branchlets.  The  cones  are  ovate  or 
ovate-oblong  and  1  to  Ih  inches  long,  with  thin  roundish  scales. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  close  and  straight-grained  ; 
light  red,  or  often  nearly  white  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  lighter.  It 
is  used  ibr  construction,  shipbuilding,  piles,  posts,  railroad  ties, 
etc.      Sj^ruce  beer  is  made  from  this  species. 

The  largest  bodies  of  spruce,  in  North  Carolina,  are  on  the 
Black  mountains  in  Yancey  county.  Grandfather  mountain  in 
Watauga,  the  Balsam  mountains  in  Haywood,  and  the  Great 
Smoky  mountains  in  Swain  county. 

Tsuga  canadensis,  Carriore. 
(hemlock,     spruce  pine.) 

A  large  tree,  with  a  large  conical  crown,  numerous  spreading 
branches,  and  dark  red-brown  deeply  furrowed  bark,  reaching  a 
height  of  110  and  a  diameter  of  6  feet.     (Plate  XIX.) 

It  occurs  generally  on  nortliern  slopes  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
northern  Wisconsin,  and  south  to  Delaware,  Michigan,  central 
Wisconsin,  and  along  the  Appalaciiian  mountains  to  Alabama  ; 
reaching  its  best  development  in  the  liigh  mountains  of  North 
Carolina  and  Tennessee. 

In  North  Carolina,  where  it  attains  an  average  height  of  To  to 
80  and  an  average  diameter  of  2  to  8  feet,  it  is  common  in  the 
mountains  in  cool  ravines  along  streams  on  loamy  or  rich  vegeta- 


N.    C.    GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


HEMLOCK 


CAROLINA     HEMLOCK.        HEMLOCK.        SPRUCE    PINE.  135- 

hie  soil,  associated  with  cherry  birch,  yellow  birch,  and  the 
Rhododendron.     (Fig.  35,  p.  123.) 

It  bears  seed  frequently,  and  young  seedlings  are  cotnnion  in 
the  shade  of  the  old  trees.  The  hemlock  is  very  free  from  the 
attack  of  injurious  insects.  Tall  trees  in  exposed  situations  are 
often  thrown  by  the  wind. 

The  dark  green  leaves  are  linear,  llat,  obtuse,  two-ranked,  and 
whitish  beneath.  The  cones  are  small,  oval  or  oblong,  with  the 
scales  smooth  and  entire.  The  hemlock  has  nnmerous  sjtreading 
lateral  and  superficial  roots. 

The  wood  is  light,  soft,  not  strong,  l)rittle,  coarse  and  crooked- 
grained,  dithcult  to  work,  liable  to  windshake  and  splinter,  and 
not  durable  ;  light  brown  or  often  nearly  white  in  color  ;  the  sap- 
wood  somewhat  darker.  Commercially  two  varieties,  tlve  red 
and  the  white,  are  recognized.  The  coarse  lumber  is  used  for 
construction,    outside    finish,    and    railroad    ties.  The   bark   is 

extensively  employed  for  tanning,  and  yields  a  powerful  astrin- 
gent,     ('anada  or  hemlock-pitch  is  made  t'rom  this  species. 

A  good  deal  of  hemlock  has  been  cut  near  Cranberry  for  the 
bark,  and  large  quantities  of  logs  have  been  floated  down  the 
branches  of  the  Tennessee  river  from  Grahan)  and  Swain  coun- 
ties to  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Tsuga  caroliniana,   Engelmann. 

(CAROLINA     HEMLOCK.        HEMLOCK.        SPRUCE     PINE.) 

A  tree,  with  conical  crown,  numerous  branches  upon  two-thirds 
of  the  stem,  and  rough  thick  red-brown  bark,  reaching  a  height 
of  5(j  to  70  and  a  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet. 

It  is  found  locally  along  the  eastern  Appalachian  mountains 
from  the  Saluda  mountains.  South  Carolina,  to  Ashe  county  in 
North  Carolina,  where  it  occurs  on  cliffs  along  the  South  Fork  of 
the  New  river,  near  Elk  Cross-roads,  and  on  spurs  of  the  Blue 
Ridge;  also  in  the  gorge  of  the  Doe  river  in  Carter  county,  Tenn, 
(Fig.  35,  p.  123.)  It  grows  on  dry  and  rocky  ridges,  rarely  form- 
ing pure  forest. 


136  TIMBER    TKEES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

The  Carolina  hemlock  bears  seed  frequently,  but  usually  not  in 
abundance.     Seedlings  are  common  in  dense  woods. 

The  leaves  are  longer  and  more  scattered  than  those  of  the 
common  hemlock,  to  which  the  tree  bears  a  general  resemblance. 
The  cones  are  larger,  drooping,  and  with  spreading  scales. 

The  coarse-grained  brittle  wood  is  light  and  soft ;  light  brown 
tinged  with  red  ;   the  sapwood  nearly  white. 

Abies  fraseri,  Lindley. 

(balsam.) 

A  tree,  with  conical  crown,  numerous  spreading  branches,  and 
light  gray  rather  smooth  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  80  and  a 
diameter  of  2  feet. 

It  occurs  on  moist  slopes  at  an  elevation  of  5,000  to  6,500  feet, 
upon  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  often  form- 
ing considerable  forests. 

In  this  State,  where  it  reaches  an  average  height  of  less  than 
40  feet  and  an  average  diameter  of  12  to  15  inches,  it  is  common 
on  the  highest  summits  of  the  mountain  region,  but  it  does 
not  occur  below  4,000  feet.  It  usually  forms  pure  forest,  but 
is  found  mixed  with  the  black  spruce,  and  to  a  less  extent  with 
beech  and  the  birches. 

It  bears  seed  at  rather  long  intervals,  but  seedlings  are  com- 
mon under  the  shade  of  the  old  trees.  The  growth  in  youth  is 
rapid. 

The  leaves  are"  somewhat  two  ranked,  linear,  flattened  and 
obtuse,  and  remain  on  the  trees  for  several  years.  The  cones  are 
1  to  2  inches  long. 

The  wood  is  very  light,  soft,  not  strong,  coarse-grained  ;  light 
brown  in  color  ;  the  sapwood  nearly  white.  It  is  little  used.  A 
thin,  clear  liquid  called  turpentine  or  balsam,  derived  from  l)listers 
on  the  bark,  is  used  for  cuts  and  sores. 

Sabal  palmetto,  Loddiges. 
(palmetto.) 
An  endogenous  tree,  destitute  of  branches,  with  a  small  oval  or 


N.   C.   CjEOLOGICAL    si  R\EV 


HULLETIX    6,    PLATE    XX. 


A    YOUNG    PAL 

GROUP    OF    PALMETTOS.  SMITH'S    ISLAND. 


PALMETTO.  137 

globose  head  formed  of  the  large  roniid  leaves,  and  rough  furrowed 
dark  brown  bark,  reaching  a  height  of  40  and  a  diameter  of  3 
feet.     (Plate  XX.) 

It  oc'^.urs  from  Smith  Island  off  Cape  Fear  river,  North  Caro- 
lina, to  Key  Largo,  Florida,  and  along  the  Gulf  coast  to  the 
Appalachicola  river ;  reaching  its  best  development  on  the  west 
coast  of  Florida,  south  of  Cedar  Keys. 

In  North  Carolina,  it  is  found  on  deep  sandy  or  loamy  soil 
with  the  live  oak,  American  olive,  and  water  oak,  and  attains  a 
height  of  30  feet  and  a  diameter  rarely  exceeding  18  inches.  Its 
rarity  renders  it  of  little  commercial  importance. 

The  leaves  are  large,  fan  shaped,  pal  mated,  and  borne  on  stems 
18  to  24  inches  long.  The  flowers  are  small,  greenish,  and  in 
small  clusters,  and  the  fruit  is  a  small  rounded  drupe. 

The  wood  is  light  and  soft  ;  light  brown  in  color  ;  the  fibro- 
vascular  bundles  hard,  dark,  and  difficult  to  work.  It  is  imper- 
vious to  the  attacks  of  the  teredo,  very  durable  in  water,  and  is 
largely  used  for  piles  and  wharves.  The  inner  portion  of  the 
young  plant  is  edible,  and  is  often  pickled. 


FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


WILLIAM  WILLARD  ASHE. 


THE  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


By  W.  W.  Ashe. 


FOREST  DIVISIONS. 

North  Carolina  can  be  divided  topographically  into  three  well- 
marked  divisions  : 

1.  The  coastal  plain  kegion,  or  coastal  division  lying  to  the 
eastward  and  extending  inland  from  the  coast  for  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  has  an  aggregate  area 
approximating  24,000  square  miles.  Its  surface  is  that  of  a  gently 
undulating  plain  of  slight  elevation  (ten  to  fifty  feet  above  sea 
level)  and  more  nearly  level  surface  eastward,  and  becoming  more 
elevated  (three  hundred  to  five  hundred  feet)  and  rolling  along  its 
western  border.  The  upland  soils  are  sandy  loams  and  loams, 
rarely  stifi',  moderately  fine  and  even-grained.  To  the  north 
of  the  Neuse  river  loams  and  loose  loams  are  the  more  frequent 
upland  soils  ;  to  the  south  of  this  river  they  are  more  sandy.  In 
the  more  eastern  portion  of  this  region,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast, 
are  numerous  and  extensive  swamps,  due  either  to  insufiicient 
surface  drainage,  or  the  presence  beneath  the  surface  soil  of 
impermeable  strata.  Their  soils  are  silty  and  clayey,  and  com- 
pact;  or  sandy  and  loamy,  and  loose;  over  limited  areas  they 
are  peaty  ;  where  they  border  the  larger  streams,  that  have  their 
head-waters  beyond  the  coastal  plain  region,  they  are  silty  with  a 
small  admixture  of  vegetable  matter. 

In  this  region  the  normal  annual  temperature  is  about  61°F.  ; 
and  the  normal  annual  rainfall  about  fifty  five  inches. 

2.  The  Piedmont  plateau  region,  extending  westward  from  the 
coastal  plain,  lies  parallel  to  the  Atlantic  shore,  and  to  the  Blue 
Ridge,  the  eastern  base  of  which  marks  the  region's  western  bor- 
der. It  is  an  extended  peneplain,  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two 
hundred  miles  in  width,  and  has  an  area  of  about  22,000  square 


142  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

miles.  In  the  east  its  surface  is  rolling,  but  adjacent  to  the  larger 
streams,  and  toward  the  western  limit,  it  becomes  more  hilly  and 
rugged,  and  in  places  even  mountainous,  being  penetrated  by 
spurs  from  the  Blue  Ridge.  It  has  an  average  altitude  above  sea- 
level  of  850  to  900  feet,  but  rises  at  the  highest  peaks  to  a  little 
over  3,000  feet ;  along  its  extreme  eastern  border  it  is  not  over  400 
to  500  feet.  On  the  uplands  the  soils  may  be  described  in  gen- 
eral terms  as  loams,  sandy  in  some  places  and  clayey  in  others, 
formed  by  the  decay  of  slates,  gneisses,  granites,  and  other  crys- 
talline rocks.  Along  the  numerous  streams  the  soil  is  usually 
a  fluvial  deposit  :  a  rich  dark-colored  loam,  containing  a  vary- 
ing proportion  of  vegetable  matter. 

The  Piedmont  plateau  region  has  an  average  temperature  of 
about  58.5°  or  59°  F.,  and  an  annual  rainfall  of  about  fifty 
inches. 

3.  The  mountain  region  embraces  an  irregular  and  mountain- 
ous table-land,  which  lies  between  the  escarpment  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  on  the  east  and  the  Great  Smoky  mountains  on  the  west. 
Numerous  cross-chains,  separated  by  narrow  valleys  or  broader 
river  basins,  connect  these  two  mountain  ranges.  The  region  has 
an  average  altitude  above  sea  level  of  about  3,500  feet  ,  but  rises 
(at  Mt.  Mitchell)  to  6,711  feet.  It  has  an  area  of  nearly  6,000 
square  miles.  Although  the  mountain  slopes  are  often  steep,  the 
soil  is  usually  fertile,  being  a  loam  of  varying  physical  character 
but  generally  rich  in  humus,  open  or  porous  and  easily  cultivated. 

The  average  temperature  for  the  region  probably  approximates 
50°  F.,  varying  from  57.8°  F.,  at  Hot  Springs,  to  an  estimated  tem- 
perature for  the  summit  of  Mt.  Mitchell  of  less  than  38°  F.  ;"  the 
normal  annual  precipitation  is  about  57  inches. 

The  rainfall  throughout  the  State  is  about  evenly  distributed 
through  the  seasons  ;  more  falls,  however,  in  July  and  August, 
and  less  in  October  and  November,  than  at  other  seasons. 

There  are  few  late  spring  frosts ;  and  only  occasionally  are 
there  early  autumn  frosts  before  the  wood  has  ripened  at  the  end 
of  the  growing  season. 

*Climato]oj<y  of  North  CaroUna,  N.  C.  A^r.  Exp.  Sta.  Kept.,  Raleigh,  1893;  p.  l(i«. 


FORESTS    OF    THK    COASTAL    PLAIN    REGION.  143 

Coinciding  in  general  with  the  three  topographic  divisions 
described  above  are  three  well-marked  forest  divisions.  That 
lying  to  the  eastward  will  be  called  the  coastal  plain  forest 
region.  It  includes  the  northern  part  of  the  great  southern  mari- 
time pine  belt  which,  more  or  less  interrupted,  but  retaining  its 
characteristic  arborescent  growth,  extends  from  eastern  Yirginia 
to  eastern  Texas.  It  corresponds  to  the  Loiiisianian  zone  of  the 
biologists. 

The  second  forest  division  will  be  considered  as  the  Piedmont 
forest  region.  The  forests  of  this  region  are  typical  of  the  hill- 
country  of  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  states,  and  corresponds 
to  the  Carolinian  zone  of  the  biologists. 

The  most  western  division  will  be  considered  as  the  mountain 
forest  region.  It  forms  almost  the  southern  portion  of  the  Appa- 
lachiaTi  forests  which  extend  from  northern  Alabama  to  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  York,  and  is  the  Appalacliian  life  zone  of  the 
biologists.  On  the  higl  er  mountains,  but  on  no  peaks  under 
5,000  feet  elevation,  occur  isolated  groups  of  forests,  which  are 
referred  by  the  biologist  to  a  more  northern  zone,  the  Canadian  ; 
but  these  forests  are  not  important  enough,  or  sufficiently  exten- 
sive in  this  State,  to  recjuire  more  than  a  slight  description. 

FORESTS  OF  THE  COASTAL  PLAIN  REGION, 

The  forests  of  the  coastal  plain  region  are  characterized  by  a 
dominant  growth  of  pines''*  on  the  uplands,  except  over  limited 
areas  wh^re  broad-leaf  evergreen  trees  are  dominant  ;  aud  conifers 
of  several  species,  associated  v/ith  broad-leaf  trees,  many  of  them 
evergreen,  on  the  lowlands. 

The  variations  in  tlie  character  of  the  forests  of  the  coastal 
plain  region  are  the  result  of  the  inilnences  of  three  factors  : 
(1)  The  maritime  conditions,  due  to  the  proximify  to  the  ocean 
and  sounds,  which  perceptibly  affect  the  composition  of  the  forest 
only  in 'the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  coast;  (2)  elevation  above 
the  sea  level,  which  is  so  slight  as  to  cause  evident  effects  only 
along  the  western  limits  of  the  region  ;  (3)  differences  in  the  soils, 
to  which  is  largely  due  the   distribution    witiiin  the  region  of  the 

*Pines  occurring  over  the  larger  portion  ot  this  region  all  have  ."5  leaves  to  the  sheath. 


'144  FORESTS    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

economic  forests.  The  inlluence  of  the  two  lirst  factors  is  through 
the  temperature  and  relative  humidity  of  the  locality  affecting 
the  length  of  the  growing  season,  the  average  annual  temperature, 
and  the  amount  of  heat,  or  the  extremes  of  heat  or  cold. 

The  conjoined  effects  of  these  factors  separate  the  forests  of  the 
coastal  plain  region  into  three  parallel  zones  or  belts  :  (1)  The 
maritime  forests,  lying  to  the  eastward  along  the  coast,  and  under 
the  influence  of  the  sea  ;  (2)  the  forests  of  the  pine  belt ;  (3)  the 
transitional  forests  lying  along  the  western  border  of  the  region. 

MARITIME  FORESTS. 

The  maritime  forests,  extending  northeast  and  southwest  along 
the  entire  coast-line,  rise  from  high-w^ater  mark,  cover  the  narrow 
islands,  the  so-called  banks  skirting  the  coast,  and  on  the  main- 
land extend  inland  for  a  short  distance,  fringing  the  margins  of 
the  numerous  streams,  bays,  and  inlets  about  as  far  as  tidal  effects 
occur.  This  area  is  only  a  few  hundred  square  miles  in  extent, 
having  a  length  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  and  a 
breadth  in  this  State  rarely  exceeding  four  or  live. 

THE    SOILS    OF    THE    MARITIME    DIVISION. 

The  upland  soils  of  the  maritime  forest  belt  are  of  sand  or  ex- 
ceedingly loose  sandy  loams,  in  a  tew  places  calcareous  or  limy  ; 
being  sea  beaches,  or  the  remnants  of  former  beaches  lying  within 
the  existing  one,  and  bordering  the  sounds  and  the  narrow  inlets. 
There  is  scarcely  a  differentiation  into  soil  and  subsoil,  except 
occasionally  in  the  larger  proportion  of  organic  matter  contained 
in  the  superficial  layers.  Both  upper  and  lower  layers  are 
identical  in  consistency,  formed  of  large-sized  and  even-grained 
sand,  with  a  small  proportion  of  lime,  in  the  form  of  calcium 
carbonate,  from  the  weathering  and  disintegration  of  marine 
shells.  The  land  surface  rises  usually  only  a  fe\v  feet  above  high 
tide,  though  in  a  few  places  there  are  altitudes  of  40  feet  or  more. 
Where  the  soils  are  fine-grained  they  are  continually  moist  from 
water  suspended  by  capillarity  ;  where  coarser  and  porous,  they 
are  soon  dry,  superficially,  even  soon   after  rains.     The  surface  is 


CONDITION    OF    THE    FORESTS.  145 

rolling,  and  in  a  few  places  there  are  hills  with  broad  rounded 
crowns,  where  the  force  of  wind  and  surf  has  lifted  the  loose  sand 
high  above  the  general  level. 

CONDITION    OF    THE    FORESTS. 

The  forests  of  tiiis  maritime  area  are  composed  chiefly  of 
broad-leaf  evergi-een  trees:  water  oak,  laurel  oak,  live  oak, 
devil  wood,  mock-orange,  smooth  sweet  bay,  palmetto,  yaupon  and 
myrtle,  with  a  single  resinous  species,  the  red  cedar;  while  broad- 
leaf  deciduous  trees  are  represented  chiefly  by  the  southern  lin, 
prickly  ash,'-'  buckthorns,  planer-tree  and  water  hickory,  but  these 
are  not  abundant,  and  are  nearly  confined  to  the  alluvial  soils  or 
those  richest  in  organic  matter.  The  laurel  oak  and  live  oak  are 
the  most  characteristic  trees,  being  common  throughout,  and  not 
being  found  in  this  State  farther  inland;  although  to  the  southward, 
following  the  isothermal,  they  occur  far  from  the  coast.  Other 
trees  whicii  in  this  State  are  limited  in  their  distribution  to  the 
maritime  forests,  are  the  devilwood,  mock-orange,  smooth  sweet- 
bay,  palmetto,  planer-tree  and  magnolia.  The  water  hickory, 
found  on  the  banks  of  the  larger  streams,  extends  a  few  miles 
farther  inland  than  most  of  these  trees,  and  the  same  may  possibly 
be  true  of  the  planer-tree  ;  while  the  water  oak,  red  cedar  and 
one  species  of  buckthorn  extend  to  within  the  Piedmont  plateau 
region. 

The  growth  of  the  original  forest  where  it  is  yet  preserved  is 
from  40  to  60  feet  in  ^height,  the  trees  sliort-boled,  the  crowns 
large  and  spreading,  interlaced  into  a  dense  canopy.  Water  oak, 
laurel  oak,  live  oak,  red  cedar,  smooth  sweet  bay,  holly,  and  mock- 
orange,  in  relative  abundance  about  in  the  order  named,  consti- 
tute from  one-half  to  over  three-fourths  of  the  growth.  Where 
culling  has  been  carried  on  occasional  loblolly  pines  have  gained 
a  foothold,  or  abundant-seeding  species  like  yaupon,  red  cedar  and 
the  laurel  oak  have  greatly  multiplied. 

Beginning  at  the  Virginia  line  and  passing  to  the  south,  there 
is  a  constant  increase  in  the  number  of  species  present,  so  that 
while  only  a  few  species  are  represented  beyond  the  Albemarle 
sound  the  number  reaches  a  maximum  in  this  State  at  and  around 

*See  p.  19. 
10 


146  "  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

tlie  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  where  at  least  two  species  liiid 
their  northern  limits.  This  enables  the  maritime  forests  to  be 
rong-hly  separated  into  two  divisions:  one  lying-  to  the  north  of 
Cape  Hatteras,  which  point  may  be  considered  to  mark  the  divis- 
ion between  the  two  ;  and  the  other  to  the  south  of  this  cape.  In 
the  northern  division,  water  oak  and  live  oak,  and  red  cedar  form 
nearly  the  entire  arborescent  growth  ;  while  in  the  southern,  with 
these  occur  the  laurel  oak,  mock-orange,  and,  but  irregularly  dis- 
tri!>uted,  the  palmetto,  devilwood,  and  magnolia.  The  i)almetto 
is  confined  to  Cape  Hatteras  and  Smith's  Island,  the  magnolia  to 
the  coast  region  of  Brunswick  county. 

Where  the  soils  are  more  moist,  the  growth  is  largely  of  water 
oak  and  laurel  oak,  holly,  smooth  sweet  bay,  and  mock-orange, 
with  occasional  lins,  or  other  kinds  of  oaks  in  addition  to  those 
named  above,  which  form  a  dense  upper  story  ;  beneath  them  are 
small  shade-bearing  trees  or  shrubs.  The  forest  floor  is  good 
and  the  humus  deep.  Where  the  soils  are  drier,  either  from 
greater  coarseness  of  the  sand  or  from  being  more  elevated  above 
sea  level,  red  cedar,  live  oak  and  prickly  ash,  enter  more  largely 
into  the  composition  of  the  forest,  the  trees  being  smaller  in  size 
and  with  shorter  boles.  On  the  driest  soils,  the  growth  is 
restricted  to  scattered  groves  of  red  cedar,  half  shrubby  forms  of 
the  live  oak,  thickets  of  plum  and  yaupon,  and. other  shrubs  which 
rapidly  propagate  by  means  of  root-shoots  and  suckers. 

Probably  not  over  one-half  of  the  area  is  wooded  ;  the  remaining 
portion  is  naked,  only  a  small  part  of  it  being  under  cultivation. 
In  places  along  the  coastal  islands,  and  this  is  particularly  true  to 
the  north  of  Cape  Hatteras,  there  are  great  stretches  destitute  of 
all  tree  growth,  the  soil  being  a  coarse  beach-sand,  the  surface  of 
which  rises  into  parallel  ridges  which  reach  a  height,  in  places,  of 
7»>  or  more  feet  above  sea  level;  and  this  sand,  being  fixed  by  no 
network  of  plant  root-fibers,  and  containing  no  binding  ingredient, 
is  constantly  shifting  under  the  impact  of  the  winds.  Some  such 
areas  were  originally  forest-covered,  but  once  cleared,  and  the 
humus,  which  was  slightly  cohesive,  destroyed,  the  constant  move- 
ment of  the  sand  before  the  winds,  which  have  piled  it  into  shift- 
ing dunes,  has  prevented  a  general  growth  of  any  kind  from  secur- 


FORESTS    OF    THE     PINE    BELT.  147 

ing  a  foothold.  Fisliennen''s  houses  have  been  destroyed  by  tliese 
inov'inor  dunes  and  their  sites  obliterated,  and  others  are  menaced 
by  them.  Considerable  areas  of  forest  have  been  destroyed  by  the 
roots  of  trees  being  deeply  covered  with  sand  or  the  entire  forest 
buried,  thus  increasing  the  extent  of  the  shifting  dunes.  Occa- 
sional clumps  of  prickly  ash  and  devilwood,  which  put  forth  adven- 
titious roots  from  tiie  young  twigs  as  they  are  partly  covered  by  the 
sand,  or  thickets  of  shrubby  live  oak,  plum,  and  shrubs  which 
sucker  freely,  maintain  themselves  in  some  places  for  many  years. 
All  oaks,  except  the  youngest,  are  killed  by  sucli  moving  dunes. 
Red  cedar,  holly,  palmetto,  mock-orange  and  myrtle,  not  rooting 
from  the  young  wood,  are  quickly  destroyed  by  the  covering  of 
sand. 

A  maritime  dune,  over  two  miles  in  length  and  twenty  feet  in 
height,  is  now  moving  across  Smith's  Island,  which  lies  at  the 
moutli  of  the  Cape  Fear  river.  Starting  in  the  southwest  part  of 
the  island,  and  moving  to  the  northward,  it  has  already  destroyed 
tlic  forest  along  the  southern  edge  of  the  island. 

Commercially  these  forests  are  unimportant  except  where  they 
produce,  on  some  of  the  islands,  a  limited  number  of  red  cedar 
posts.  Their  protection  is  worthy  of  consideration,  however,  as 
they  act  as  a  safeguard  in  preventing  the  foruiation  of  inlets 
which  would  impair  existing  water-ways. 

THE   FORESTS   OF  THE   PINE  BELT. 

These  forests  extend  from  within  a  few  miles  of  the  sea  coast 
inland  to  near  the  western  limits  of  the  coastal  plain  region,  and 
embrace  the  greater  portion  of  the  economic  forests  of  the  region 
as  well  as  cover  the  greater  part  of  its  area. 

FOREST  TREES. 

The  pines  growing  in  this  pine  belt  are  the  long-leaf,  the  lob- 
lolly, the  pond  and  in  some  places  the  short-leaf.  They  are  for 
the  most  part  conhned  to  the  uplands,  and  form  the  dominant 
growths  vith  broad-leaf  trees  beneath  them,  or  occur  as  a  pure 
growth.  Other  coniferous  or  resinous  trees  found  are  the  (;ypress, 
white  cedar,  and  red  cedar,  all  of  which  in  the  original  forests  are 


148  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

confioed  to  the  lowlands.  The  broad-leaf  trees  are  ehie%  water 
oak,  willow  oak,  Spanish  oak,  swamp  chestnut  oak,  overcup  and 
post  oaks,  and  such  smaller  species  of  oak  as  upland  willow  oak 
and  the  black-jack  oak,  which,  though  very  abundant,  are  at 
present  economically  of  littlevalne ;  sweet  gum,  water  gum  and 
tupelo,  elms,  red  maple,  hackberry,  iiickories  (chiefly  the  white, 
shagbark,  and  bitternut),  and  dogwood. 

The  larger  broad-leaf  trees,  with  the  cypress  and  cedars,  are  con- 
iined  to  the  lowlands  and  better  class  of  soils,  pines  superseding 
them  on  the  drier  or  impoverished  soil  of  the  uplands. 

DISTINCTIVE  GROWTH. 

The  difterence  between  these  forests  and  those  of  the  maritime 
division  are  marked  :  The  latter  are  composed  mostly  of  broad- 
leaf  evergreen  species;  the  former  are  composed  largely  of  pines 
and  broad-leaf  deciduous  trees.  A  few  trees  are  common  to  both 
forests.  Thus  the  M'ater  oak  is  a  (conspicuous  tree  in  both  ;  but 
the  red  cedar  is  infrequent  or  altogether  wanting  over  the  larger 
part  of  the  area  of  the  pine  belt.  The  smooth  sweet  bay  of  the 
maritime  belt  is  represented  in  the  pine  belt  by  the  closely 
related  sM'eet  bay.     (See  p.  26.) 

PHYSICAL   CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE   PINE   BELT. 

The  surface  of  this  part  of  the  coastal  plain  region  is  gently 
rolling,  there  being,  particularly  to  the  eastward,  areas  of  large 
extent  almost  level,  but  along  the  western  border,  especially  in 
Harnett,  Moore  and  Richmond  counties,  it  is  hilly  and  broken. 
The  area  is  nearly  as  great  as  that  of  the  coastal  plain  forest 
region,  and  the  altitude  above  the  sea  level  is  about  the  same  as 
was  given  for  that,  being  from  10  or  15  feet  along  the  eastern  bor- 
der to  150,  and  even  300  feet,  in  Moore  county,  along  the  west- 
ern border. 

To  the  eastward,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  coast,  where  the 
drainage  is  insufficient  to  remove  the  rainfall,  there  are  extensive 
areas  of  lowlands  or  swamp,  mostly  forest-covei-ed  ;  while  west- 
ward, where  the  fall  permits  more  thorough  drainage,  the  swamps 
are  restricted  to  narrow  borders  contiguous   to  the  streams.      The 


FORESTS    OF    THE    PINE    BELT     UPLANDS.  149 

entire  swamp-area  of  tlie  region    aggregates  nearly  4,600  sqnare 
miles. 

THE   CHANGES  IN   THE   KIND  OF   FOREST  GROWTH. 

The  changes  in  the  condition  of  the  forest  growth  are  dne 
almost  entirely  to  variations  in  the  character  of  the  soils  :  porosity, 
fertility,  the  amount  of  moisture  contained,  in  them,  and  to  the 
distribution  of  the  soil-moisture  during  the  growing  season.  The 
extremes  of  inoisture  encountered  are  from  wet,  or  even  inundated 
soils  throughout  the  growing-season,  to  dry  soils  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  except  immediately  after  a  rain.  In  fertility  the 
range  is  between  compact  and  line-grained  "  mud "  alluvium, 
containing  in  abundance  all  the  elements  of  plant-food,  to  almost 
pure  sand  ;  in  porosity,  from  coarse-grained  sand  of  great  depth, 
to  compact  shallow  top-soils  with  impermeable  substrata.  Some 
soils  are  almost  destitute  of  humus,  while  others  are  constituted 
largely  of  decaying  or  decayed  vegetable  matter.  Such  extremes 
of  soils  are  often  in  juxtaposition,  there  being  no  easy  gradation 
from  one  to  the  other,  so  that  the  contrast  and  line  of  demarcation 
between  the  two,  and  the  respective  arborescent  growth  which 
they  support,  is  sharply  and  distinctly  defined. 

The  forests  of  the  pine  belt  are  separable  into  two  groups  :  those 
of  the  uplands,  on  which  the  long- leaf  and  loblolly  pines  are  the 
dominant  trees  ;  and  those  of  the  lowlands  on  w^hich  white  cedar, 
cypress,  or  broad-leaf  trees  are  the  most  abundant. 

THE   FORESTS  OF  THE   PINE  BELT  UPLANDS. 

Forests  of  pine  covered,  at  least  in  their  original  distribution,  all 
of  the  uplands,  there  being  only  a  few  local  areas  on  which  broad- 
leaf  trees  were  not  subordinate  to  them.  To  the  north  of  the  Tar 
river,  except  on  the  porous  and  highly  silicious  soils  where  pure 
and  uninterrupted  forests  of  long-leaf  pine  occurred,  the  original 
forests  were  composed  of  alternating  belts  of  short-leaf  and 
loblolly  pines;  the  short-leaf  pine,  with  a  subordinate  growth  of 
broad-leaf  trees,  largely  oaks,  dominating  along  the  crests  and  on 
the  drier  and  more  gravelly  soils,  as  occasional  trees  of  this  species 
still   standing  now  testify;    while  on    the   lower,   moister,   loamy 


150  FORESTS    OF    NOKTH    CAROLINA. 

soils  grew  the  loblolly  pine,  forming  a  ruling  pure  growth  or 
coordinate  with  broad-leaf  trees.  To  the  north  of  the  Roanoke 
river  the  long-leaf  pine  probably  formed  only  two  extensive 
forests:  one  on  the  sandy  area  extending  north  and  south  through 
Gates  county,  the  other  on  "  long  ridge,"  an  elevated  body  of  sand 
lying  to  the  south  of  the  Dismal  Swamp.  To  the  south  of  the 
Roanoke  river,  the  areas  of  sandy  soils  with  the  accompanying 
growth  of  long-leaf  pine  were  more  frequent,  extensive  bodies 
occurring  in  Halifax,  Bertie,  and  Edgecombe  counties;  while  in 
Wayne  and  Nash  counties,  to  the  north  of  the  Neuse  river,  began 
the  forests  of  this  tree,  which  extended  with  their  continuity 
scarcely  b  oken  exce[)t  by  the  water  courses,  west  to  the  oak 
uplands  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  and  southwestward  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  Within  this  area,  only  adjacent  to  the  swamps  were 
there  at  the  iirst  settlement  of  this  country  more  than  scattered 
trees  of  the  loblolly  pine. 

The  influence  of  man  in  changing  and  modifying  the  distribu- 
tion of  these  trees  in  the  two  hundred  years  that  have  followed 
has  been  enormous. 

To  the  north  of  the  Neuse  river  the  long-leaf  pine  has  nearly 
disappeared.  Occasional  solitary  trees  are  still  to  be  found  among 
other  kinds  of  pines,  or  broad-leaf  tiees,  and  on  the  sand  hills  of 
Wayne  county,  and  in  the  flats  of  the  great  Dover  swamp,  groups 
of  a  few  trees  yet  occur;  but  their  commeicial  value  as  forest 
trees  in  this  section  has  passed  away.  The  short-leaf  pine  has  as 
thoroughly  disapp>eared  from  the  counties  lying  to  the  north  of 
the  Tar  river  as  has  tlie  long- leaf;  the  Idhlolly  pine  with  an 
accompanying  growth  of  small  broad-leaf  trees  has  succeeded  both. 

At  the  present  time  tiie  forest  of  the  uplands  are  separable  into 
two  divisions  with  distinct  arborescent  growth  : 

(1.)  That  in  which  the  long-leaf  pine  is  the  dominant  economic 
tree  :   the  long  leaf  pine   woodland. 

(2.)  That  in  which  the  loblolly  pine  is  the  dominant  economic 
tree  :   the  level  pine  woodland. 

In  the  present  aspect  of  tHe  forest  there  is  no  sharp  line  of 
demarcation  between  the  tw^o,  but  a  differentiation  is  made  for 
simplifying  their  consideration,  as  tliere   are  large  areas,  particu- 


LONG-LEAF    PINE    WOODLAND. 


151 


larilv  to  the  south  of  the  Neuse  river,  on  wliich  the  two  trees 
occur  side  by  side  forming  about  equal  proportions  of  the  woods, 
but  in  such  places  the  loblolly  pine  is  in  process  of  supplanting 
the  long  leaf  pine,  and  puch  woodland  will  be  considered  from  a 
sylvicultural  point  of  view,  as  being  more  suitable  for  the  growth 
and  develojiment  of  the  loi)lolly  than  the  long-leaf  pine.  The 
commercial  timbers  of  each  kind  now  on  these  lands  will,  how- 
ever, be  considered. 

LONG-LEAF    PINE     WOODLAND. 

The  area  on  which  the  long-leaf  pine  is  the  dominant  tree,  or 
where  it  yet  exists  side  by  side  with  tiie  loblolly  pine,  extends 
from  near  Bogue  sound  in  Carteret  <;oanty,  southward  along  the 
great  sand  bank  lying  between  the  sounds  and  the  swamps  ;  from 
the  burders  of  the  Dover  swamp  noi'thward  to  Enfield  in  Halifax 
county,  and  Nashville  (within  the  transitional  division)  westward 
to  Cary  (in  Wake  county),  Sanford  (in  Moore  county),  and  the  east- 
ern edge  of  Montgomery  county,  and  the  southeastern  corner  of 
Anson  county.  To  the  northeastward  of  Lliis  area,  wherever  the 
soil  was  suitable,  the  long-leaf  pine  has  been  replaced  by  the  lob- 
lolly ;  but  on  limited  areas  of  sandy  soils,  occasional  specimens  of 
the  former  species  yet  stand,  unsurrounded  by  other  large  forest 
trees,  but  showing  that  its  fellows  once  tenanted  the  entire  soil. 
Such-  areas  will  be  fully  described  in  considering  the  pine  barrens. 

Along  the  great  sand  hills  just  within  the  sounds,  the  long-leaf 
pine  occurs  in  open  forests  of  small  trees,  now  largely  removed  ; 
further  inland,  on  the  praries  and  hillocks  in  the  swamps  and  the 
wet-soiled  downs  of  the  coast  of  Brunswick  county,  clumps  of 
larger  trees  grow  at  intervals;  on  the  loams  in  the  basins  of  the 
Black  and  Northeast  Cape  Fear  rivers;  and  on  similiar  soils  in 
Colunibus,  Bladen,  and  Robeson  counties,  the  long-leaf  and  lob- 
lolly pines  are  found  together;  while  northward  to  northern 
Wayne,  and  westward  to  Wake  and  Anson  connties,  it  forms, 
where  unlambered  or  not  destroyed,  a  nearly  pure  growth  of 
medium  sized  trees. 

Leaving  out  of  consideration  the  few  trees  disseminated  through 


152  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

the  swamps  on  hillocks,  the  long-leaf  pine  occurs  on  two  classes  of_ 
soils  : 

(1.)  The  sands  of  the  pine  barrens,  which  include  the  drier 
forest  lands  between  the  sounds  and  the  great  swamps,  and  the 
greater  areas  of  dry  sandy  soils  lying  in  the  western  parts  of  the 
coastal  plain. 

(3.)  The  loams  of  level  pine  woodland  which  are  at  present  in 
most  places  the  debatable  ground  between  the  long-leaf  and  lob- 
lolly pines,  and  are,  in  certain  sections,  largely  occupied  by  the 
latter  species.  Such  areas  on  which  the  loblolly  pine  is  now  dom- 
inant will  be  described  in  considering  that  tree. 

In  the  forests  on  both  kinds  of  soil  dissimilar  changes  in  their 
composition  are  in  progress,  the  result  of  nearly  the  same  factors 

THE    PINE    BARKENS. 

The  largest  detached  areas  of  pine  barrens  are  the  long  ridge, 
lying  to  the  south  of  the  Dismal  Swamp,  the  areas  in  Gates  and 
Green  counties,  the  one  to  the  north  of  the  Neuse  river  in  Craven 
county,  narrow  strips  l^ing  north  and  south  in  Pender  and  Dup- 
lin counties,  a  great  part  of  New  Hanover  county, 'considerable 
areas  in  the  southern  part  of  Bladen,  the  middle  and  southern 
parts  of  Wayne  and  Columbus,  and  a  narrow  belt  lying  between 
the  vast  coastal  swamps  and  the  coast  in  the  counties  of  Bruns- 
wick, Onslow,  and  Carteret ;  while  a  single  large  body  extends  from 
the  northern  part  of  Sampson,  the  southern  and  central  parts  of 
Harnett,  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  Bladen,  and  northern 
Robeson  counties  throughout  Cumberland  to  the  western  sections 
of  Moore  and  Richmond  counties. 

SOILS  OF  THE   PINE   BARRENS. 

The  soils  are  of  almost  pure  sand,  containing  very  little  clayey 
ingredients  ;  loose,  coarse-grained,  dry  on  the  surface,  even  soon 
after  a  rain,  fresii  below,  but  becoming  dry  to  a  considerable 
depth,  and  usually  with  no  diflferentiable  subsoil.  But  in  the 
smaller  areas  there  is  a  top-soil  of  sand,  often  shallow,  especially 
around  the  edges  where  stiffer  loams  form  a  more  fertile  subsoil. 
Geologically  they  are  of  recent  date. 


FORESTS    OF    THE    PINE    BARRENS.  153 

The  distinctive  arborescent  growth  of  these  lands  is  the  long- 
leaf  pine  and  several  small  scrub  oaks;  the  fork-leaf  black-jack 
oak,  barren  willow  oak,  and  forms  of  the  post  uak. 

CONDITION  OF  THE   FORESTS  OF  THE   PINE   BARRENS. 

Generally  the  pine  forests  of  tlie  barrens  resemble  a  two-storied 
high  forest,  there  being  an  upper  story  of  this  pine,  about  70  or  80 
feet  in  height,  with  a  rather  thin  cover,  even  where  uninjured  by 
fires  or  unlumbered  ;  beneath  the  pine  an  open  growth  of  the 
scrub  oaks  from  10  to  15  feet  in  height,  or  in  places  nearly  clear. 
As  the  cover  of  the  pines  becomes  thinner,  the  scrub  oaks  beneath 
them  become  more  numerous.  The  floor  is  poor,  and  there  is  but 
little  humus  ;  it  is  grassy  with  coarse  tufts  of  the  wire  grass  or 
broom  grasses  or  covered  with  shrul)s.  There  is  no  young  growth 
of  the  long-leaf  pine  or  any  valuable  tree. 

Practically  all  of  the  pine  has  been  tapped  for  its  resin,  crude 
turpentine,  the  amount  of  round-timber  standing,  which  has  not 
had  the  trunk  excorticated  in  the  process  of  turpentining,  buing 
less  than  50,000  acres.  Not  only  has  the  grealer  portion  of  the 
timber  been  so  boxed  for  turpentine,  but,  after  the  original  faces 
have  l)een  scarified  as  high  as  possible,  and  the  trees  allowetl  to 
rest  a  few  years,  additional  boxes  have  been  cut  between  the 
former  ones.  Many  trees,  thus  weakened  by  the  deeply  cut  boxes 
at  the  collar  of  the  trunk,  windfall,  and  the  loss  of  timber  from 
this  cause  has  been  enormous.  The  resi'ieovered  surfaces  wh'^re 
tapped  fur  turpentine  are  highly  inflamable,  and  fires  passing  over 
the  dry  herbage  spread  to  the   trees  and  frequently  destroy  them. 

This  description  represents  the  forests  where  they  are  in  the 
best  condition,  l)ut  it  is  now  realized  in  only  a  few  places  in 
North  Carolina. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  forests  have  been  culled  for  many 
years,  so  that  there  are  extensive  areas  thinly  stocked,  a  few  pines 
to  each  acre  standing  in  thickets  of  scrub  oaks;  or  there  are  birge 
areas  of  abandoned  turpentine  orchard,  .aggregating  probably 
700,000  acres,  but  yet  containing  a  small  amount  of  timber  suita- 
ble for  saw  logs.  There  are  extensive  areas  lying  within  these 
forests  from  which  the  timber  has  been  so  thoroughly  removed  by 


154  FORESTS    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

fires,  liiniberii)g-,  and  a  reckless  system  of  tnrpentinini!;  that  the 
lands  may  he  classed  as  waste,  there  being  on,  them  neither  mer- 
chantable trees  nor  yontig  growth  of  any  species  which  will,  in  the 
course  of  time,  yield  timh>er.  Nearly  all  of  the  waste  land  in  the 
eastern  counties  lies  in  the  pine  barrens,  the  larger  areas  being 
in  Wayne,  Sampson,  Bladen,  Brunswick,  Harnett,  Cutnberland, 
Moore,  and  Richmond  counties.  The  entire  area  of  waste  land  is 
about  400,000  a. -res. 

The  waste  lands  are  due  to  the  failure  of  the  longdeaf  pine  to 
reproduce  itself  to  any  considerable  extent  in  these  vast  areas. 
Their  ])resent  condition  has  been  gradually  matured,  and  the 
causes  which  have  produced  it  may  now  be  seen  in  operation  in 
nearly  any  unprotected  wood  of  long-leaf  pine,  where  there  is  no 
young  growth  of  this  tree.  The  scanty  reproduction  is  due 
largely  to  the  fires  which  in  many  places  pass  over  the  land  every 
year  consuming  the  dead  herbage,  the  wire  grass  and  tlie  leaves  of 
the  scrub  oaks,  and  destroying  the  slow  growling  young  pines, 
which  by  the  end  of  the  fifth  year  have  o-nly  reached  a  height  of 
3  to  5  inches  above  the  ground;  the  infrequent  seeding  of  the 
old  trees;  the  enormous  destruction  of  the  seed  by  hogs  and  fowls 
when  there  is  a  seed-year;  the  further  depredations  made  by  hogs 
digging  up  the  plant  to  get  the  root.  It  is  doubtful  if  the  partial 
shade  of  the  scrub  oaks  is  sutficient  to  interfere  seriously  with  the 
development  of  the  young  plant,  as  great  as  are  its  requirements 
for  sunlight  and    warmth. 

The  failure  of  the  forests  of  long-leaf  pine  to  reproduce  them- 
selves naturally,  except  to  a  limited  extent,  on  any  part  of  the 
pine  barrens,  has  already  been  treated  of  in  a  previous  report  of 
the  Geological  Survey.  It  is  a  matter  of  importance,  as  the  land 
in  ;ts  present  state  represents  a  great  amount  of  capital  lying  idle 
which  might  be  made  productive  to  the  owner,  and  give  employ- 
ment to  lal)or  engaged  in  handling  or  manufacturing  forest 
products.  It  is  absolutely  essential  that  the  demands  necessary 
for  its  growth  be  accorded  it — immunity  fron\  destruction  by  fires, 
protection  ngainst  the  depredations  of  stock,  particularly  hogs, 
both  to  the  seed  and  the  young  plant,  and  protection  against  the 


POSSIBILITIES    OF    THE    PINE    BARRENS.  155 

encroaeliiuent  of  more  rapid-growing  pines  or  broad-leaf  trees,  on 
soils  where  such  will  grow. 

POKSIBILITIES  OF  THE   PINE   BARRENS. 

The  pine  barrens,  on  acoount  of  their  impoverished  soils, 
are  incapable  of  sustaining  a  wood  of  a  large-sized  broad-leaf 
species.  The  loblolly  pine  seems  incapable  of  naturally  securing 
a  foothold  in  these  sands,  as  nowhere  in  the  forest  does  it  follow 
the  long-leaf  pine  as  that  tree  is  removed  ;  and  on  the  limited 
areas  of  old  fields  where  it  has  appeared  spontaneously,  it  seems 
unable  to  attain  a  large  size  or  perfect  development,  the  boles 
being  short  and  crowded  with  limbs,  the  crowns  large  and  spread- 
ing, the  wood  in  the  standing  tree,  even  the  sapwood,  often  evinc- 
ing at  an  early  age  signs  of  decay.  These  are,  in  fact  par  excel- 
lence the  long-leaf  pine  lands.  No  other  tree  for  timber  use  is 
capable  of  attaining  even  a  moderate  development  on  this  soil. 
The  least  exacting  of  the  larger  forest  trees  of  the  State,  both  in 
regard  to  soil-moisture  and  fertility,  it  is  able  to  secure  by  means 
of  its  deep-seated  taproot,  which  often  penetrates  the  layers  of 
sand  to  a  depth  of  ten  or  twelve  feet,  the  mineral  elements 
necessary  for  its  development,  and  reach  on  the  most  barren  soils  a 
height  of  50  to  70  feet  and  a  diameter  of  l-i  to  16  inches.  On  the 
pauperized  soils  of  the  barrens  lying  near  the  sounds,  the  pine  is 
unable  to  become  more  than  a  middle-sized  tree  50  to  60  feet  in 
height  with  a  diameter  of  about  16  inches  ;  on  the  deep  and  poor 
sands  of  Wayne,  tlie  northern  part  of  Bladen,  and  portions  of 
Sampson  counties  tiie  conditions  of  development  are  similar  to 
or  only  a  little  better  than  those  prevailing  near  the  coast,  and 
continue  so  to  the  westward  through  Cumberland,  Harnett  and 
Richmond  counties,  until  in  Moore  and  Montgomery  counties 
the  loose  sands  become  confluent  with  the  late  drifts  derived  from 
the  sandstones  containing  clayey  particles  and  a  loamy  subsoil^ 
where  a  better  growth  can  be  secured.  But  on  many  of  the 
smaller  areas  of  sandy  soils,  where  the  taproot  of  the  tree  is  able 
to  penetrate  the  sand  and  reach  a  stifter  subsoil,  the  tree  reaches 


156  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

a  larger  size,  a  lieiu;ht  of  70  to  90  feet  and  a  diameter  of  16  to  20 
inches. 

LEVEL    PINE    WOODLAND. 

The  surface  of  these  lands,  (also  see  page  161),  is  very  nearly 
level,  sliofhtly  rolling,  or  sloping  toward  the  streams  ;  the  soils 
loose,  or  moderately  compact  loams,  or  sandy  loams  with  some- 
what firmer  yello\v  or  gray,  loamy  or  stiff  loamy  subsoils;  mostly 
fine-grained,  moist  or  fresh  but  well-drained.  As  they  become 
more  moist  and  more  loamy  the  loblolly  pine  occupies  them,  espec- 
ially over  the  large  areas  to  the  north  of  the  Tar  river. 

The  larger  areas  on  which  the  long-leaf  pine  is  yet  standing 
are  in  Edgecombe,  Johnson  and  Wilson  counties  ;  the  basin  of  the 
Northeast  Cape  Fear  river  from  the  southern  part  of  Wayne 
county  southward  ;  large  areas  in  the  southern  parts  of  Bladen 
and  Robeson  counties  and  smaller  areas  in  Brunswick  and  Colum- 
bus Counties. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  long-leaf  pine  fornierly  occupied  the 
greater  portion  of  these  lands  to  the  exclusion  of  almost  every 
other  tree,  but  as  the  mature  trees  of  this  species  were  removed  or 
died  they  have  been  rapidly  replaced  by  the  loblolly  pine  and,  in 
most  places  to  the  north  of  the  Neuse  river,  and  in  many  places 
to  the  south,  this  substitution  has  been  entirely  effected. 

The  other  trees  which  grow  on  these  loams  with  the  pines  are 
the  post  oak,  the  Spanish  oak  and  the  black  oak,  and  small  hick- 
ories and  dogwood. 

CONDITION  OF  THE   FORESTS  OF  THE   LEVEL   PINE   WOODLAND- 

Where  pasturage  has  not  suppressed  the  broad-leaf  element, 
the  forests  of  long-leaf  pine  on  the  moist  loams  also  resemble  a 
two-storied  high  forest.  The  upper  story  is  a  compact  growth  of 
pine,  100  to  125  feet  in  height;  the  the  lower  is  of  broad-leaf 
trees  :  post  oak,  Spanish  oak,  and  black  oak,  small  hickories  and 
dogwood,  reaching  an  average  height  of  not  more  than  -10  feet. 
In  few  localities  is  this  condition  now  realized.  The  cover  of 
pine  has  been  broken  by  frequent  windfalls  and  culling  ;  in  many 
places    browsing  cattle  have  suppressed   the   broad-leaf  trees,   or 


FORESTS     OF    THE    LEVEL    PINE    WOODLAND.  loT 

they  have  been  killed  bv  fires.  The  loblolly  pine,  resisting  snc- 
cessfully  the  fires  and  uninjured  bj  cattle,  has  colonized  either 
by  solitary  specimens  or  njore  frequently  by  groups  of  a  few  trees 
which  have  already  reached  maturity,  or  by  thickets  of  younger 
ones,  wherever  openings  in  the  cover  above  enabled  it  to  secure  a 
foothold.  In  sections  long-settled,  where  the  long-leaf  pine  has 
been  culled,  and  in  long-abandoned  turpentine  orchards  the  lob- 
lolly has  replaced  a  great  part  of  the  long-leaf  pine.  The  mature 
loblolly  pines  nearly  equal  in  height  the  long-leaf  pine  and  form 
a  part  of  the  cover,  beneath  which  groups  of  young  trees  of  the 
former  species  can  be  seen  in  all  stages  of  development  wherever, 
there  is  sufficient  light  to  permit  their  growth.  Nowhere  except 
in  the  limited  districts  protected  from  fire  and  cattle,  is  there  any 
young  growth  of  the  long-leaf  pine.  This  tree,  once  dominant 
over  such  an  extensive  area,  is  surely  failing  to  reproduce  itself, 
and  it  is  fortunate  that  a  tree  as  valuable  as  the  loblolly  pine  is 
supplanting  it  on  these  soils.  The  greater  part  of  the  compact 
loblolly  growth  to  the  south  of  the  Tar  river  has  in  this  manner 
gradually  extended  by  occupying  the  lands  from  which  the 
progeny  of  its  closest  competitor  has  been  thus  excluded  by  the 
influence  of  human  agencies. 

To  the  causes  which  have  checked  the  growth  of  the  lono--leaf 
pine  on  the  pine  barrens,  fires,  hogs  and  infrequent  seeding,  there 
must  be  added  another  agency  which  has  aided  in  suppressino;  it 
on  the  level  loamy  soils — the  struggle  with  contesting  species.  As 
the  cover  in  the  long-leaf  pine  growth  has  been  broken,  either  by 
trees  being  removed  in  lumbering  or  windfalls,  seed  from  the  lob- 
lolly i^ines  in  the  swamps  and  along  the  streams  have  been  blown 
in,  this  pine  seeding  more  regularly  than  the  long-leaf,  and  its 
seedlings  have  taken  possession,  the  young  plant  not  beino- 
destroyed  by  hogs,  and  by  their  rapid  growth  soon  getting  too 
laige  to  be  easily  damaged  by  fires.  Long-leaf  pines,  which  after 
a  time  might  have  succeeded  in  getting  a  start,  have  thus  been 
crowded  out  by  being  overshaded  by  the  more  rapid-growino- 
loblolly  pine.  Under  existing  conditions  it  is  impossible  for  the 
long-leaf  pine  to  ever  again  succeed  naturally  in  forming  a  growth 


loS  FORESTS    OF    NORTH     UAROLIXA. 

on  tlie  lands  whieli  the  loblolly  pine  has  thus  possessed.  The 
shade  of  the  loblolly  pine  with  that  formed  by  the  accompanying 
undergrowth  of  broad-leaf  trees  is  too  deep  for  the  growth  of  the 
long-leaf  pine  seedling  beneatli  them,  even  where  there  are  long- 
leaf  pines  standing  near  that  might  produce  the  uecessarj^  seed. 

SUPPLY     AND     UTILIZATION     OF     LONG-LEAF    PINE. 

The  larger  bodies  of  merchantable  long-leaf  pine  lie  in  Bladen, 
Robeson,  Cumberland,  Moore,  and  Montgomery  counties,  the 
last  being  within  the  transitional  region.  There  are  smaller 
bodies  in  Sampson,  Brunswick,  Columbus,  and  Harnett  counties. 
Nearly  all  of  this  has  been  tapped  for  turpentine.  The  total 
amount  standing  is  estimated  to  be  less  than  3,000,000,000  feet, 
board  measure,  distributed  so  as  to  yield  on  pine  lands  an  average 
ciit  of  less  than  8,000  feet,  board  measure,  to  the  acre. 

The  greater  part  of  the  long-leaf  pine  timber  is  <jon verted  into 
lumber.  Wilmington,  the  chief  seat  of  the  manufacture  of  long- 
leaf  pine  lumber  in  North  Carolina,  is  now  supplied  by  rafts 
floated  down  the  Northeast  and  Cape  Fear  rivers.  The  manu- 
factured products  go  to  coastwise  ports  arid  the  West  India 
Islands.  The  total  shipments  of  long-leaf  pine  .lumber  from  this 
port  for  1896,  amounted  to  about  20,000,000  feet,  board  measure. 

The  most  active  lumber  operations  in  the  interior  are  at  Aber- 
deen, Troy  Junction,  and  near  Carthage.  These  mills  not  being 
on  large  water-courses  obtain  their  timber  by  means  of  small  rail- 
ways which  penetrate  the  unlumbered  forest,  and  on  which  logs 
are  brought  in  and  delivered  at  the  mills. 

Logs  of  great  length  are  easily  handled,  and  a  large  part  of  the 
timber  gotten  out  is  of  large  dimensions  for  trestleing,  framing,  and 
other  exceptional  uses. 

All  railways  passing  through  the  long-leaf  pine  region -use  ties 
of  this  pine  exclusively  ;  and  besides,  such  ties  are  used  to  a  con- 
siderable extent  on  other  parts  of  these  lines  not  lying  within  the 
distribution  of  the  long-leaf  pine. 

An  explanation  of  the  method  of  extracting  resin  from  the  long- 


TREATMENT    OF    THE    LONG-LEAF     PINE     FORESTS.  159 

leaf  pine,  and  the  inaniifactiire  of  resinous  products  is  to  be  found 
in  Bui.  5  of  the  N.  C.  Geological  Survey  publications,  1S94. 

TREATMENT    REQUIRED     BY     THE     LONG-LEAF      PINE     FORESTS. 

On  such  loamy  soils  as  are  suitable  for  the  growth  of  the  lob- 
lolly pine,  and  which  it  now  occupies  in  a  great  part,  "it  would 
probably  be  more  advantageous  to  secure  in  regeneration  a  pure 
growth  of  that  species  ;  or,  where  the  loblolly  has  only  lately 
begun  to  colonize,  to  offer  it  by  protecting  from  fires,  full  facilities 
tor  securing  a  thick  stand  as  the  remaining  long-leaf  pine  is 
removed. 

The  area  e>f  unl umbered  long-leaf  pine  lands  in  this  State  is  now 
of  small  extent  and  is  the  seat  of  active  lumbering  operations. 
The  growth  of  pine  is  so  open  (the  density  in  only  a  few  places 
being  over  three-fourths  of  the  possibility),  that  if  protected  from 
fire  and  hogs  until  after  lumbered,  there  would  be  sufficient  light 
for  a  young  crop  to  have  secured  a  start  beneath  the  old  pines. 
In  localities  in  the  transitional  counties,  where  there  is  a  heavy 
underwood  of  small  broad-leaf  trees,  chiefly  post  oak,  Spanish  oak, 
and  white  oak,  openings  would  have  to  be  made  in  their  cover  in 
order  to  afford  the  young  pines  sufficient  light  for  development. 
In  many  places  where  the  pine  has  been  regularly  lumbered  or 
culled  for  a  great  many  years  there  is  a  like  thick  growth  of  small 
broad-leaf  trees  beneath  the  remaining  pines,  and  here  too  the 
cover  would  have  to  be  thinned  in  order  to  give  the  young  pines 
the  necessary  light.  In  must  ])laces  there  are  still  sufficient  mature 
pines  standing,  if  left  uninjured,  to  seed  the  ground  after  two  or 
more  seed-years,  if  the  seedlings  are  protected.  Where  there  are 
now  no  seed-bearing  pines  a  crop  would  have  to  be  artificially 
introduced  by  either  sowing  the  seed  or  setting  out  young  plants. 
As  seed  in  a  seed-year  could  be  cheaply  secured,  and  the  young 
plants  if  set  out  would  also  require  protection,  it  would  undoubt- 
edly be  more  economical  to  introduce  by  seeding.  The  first  and 
absolute  prerecjuisite  before  any  attempt  can  be  made  to  improve 
the  condition  of  the  long  leaf  pine  forests  is  entire  exclusion  of 
cattle  and  hogs,  and  complete  protection  from  fire.  Laws  enforc- 
ing the  confinement  o+'  live  stock   will  in  a  great  measure  secure 


160  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

immunity  from  the  first  evil  and  will  materially  tend  to  mitigate 
the  second,  as  the  majority  of  the  fibres  which  sweep  across  the  bar- 
rens with  i-nch  destruction  are  purposely  set  to  remove  dried  grass 
and  herbage  in  the  spring,  and  afford  cattle  the  tender,  fresh  shoots 
of  the  year  for  pasturage. 

Especially  might  much  benefit  accrue  to  these  districts  by  the 
reenactment  of  special  fire-laws  for  the  pine  barren  districts, 
affixing  more  severe  penalties  for  their  violation  ;  establishing  for 
their  execution  an  administrative  corps  of  wardens  and  subordinate 
officers,  with  power  to  summon  citizens  in  case  of  fires  to  assist 
in  suppressing  them,  to  inquire  into  their  origin,  and  to  bring 
suits  in  the  courts  against  oflTenders  and  violators  of  the  laws. 
The  present  fire-law  is  unsatisfactory  in  offering  no  adequate 
means  for  investigation  into  the  origin  of  fires,  so  that  it  is  seldom 
or  never  that  offenders  come  within  its  bounds. 

The  long-leaf  pine  can  be  reproduced  only  from  seed,  and  is 
adapted  only  for  pure  growth  in  a  high  forest  with  a  rotation  of 
from  80  to  120  or  more  years.  As  the  tree  reaches  a  smaller  size 
and  attains  a  less  age  on  the  highly  silicious  soils  of  the  pine  bar- 
rens it  would  be  more  profitable  to  use  the  longer  periods  of  rota- 
tion, for  the  production  of  larger- sized  timber,  only  on  the  better 
class  of  soils.  Ft  is  more  impatient  of  the  shade  than  any  other 
of  the  forest  trees,  the  young  seedling,  even,  requiring  direct  sun- 
liglit  and  enduring  only  a  moderate  shade,  and  the  trees  when 
once  stunted  by  over-shading,  or  too  much  compression,  never 
recover  their  normal  vigor. 

The  group  system  of  natural  regeneration  certainly  seems  to 
assure  the  successful  starting  of  a  new  crop  with  a  greater  prob- 
ability of  success  than  any  other.  By  this  system  groups  of  trees 
of  considerable  extent  are  removed  at  intervals  through  the  for- 
est, the  areas  from  which  they  are  rentoved  being  cut  clean,  and 
reo-eneration  taking  place  by  seeding  from  the  adjoining  trees. 
The  young  seedlings  cannot  be  overshaded  by  the  enlargement  of 
the  crowns  of  still-standing  trees  as  is  apt  to  be  the  case  in  selec- 
vtion  cutting,  and  a  thick  stand,  if  the  group  is  not  of  too  great 
extent,  more  than  two  hundred  to  three  hundred  yards  wide, 
insures  sufficient  lateral  shade  during  the  height-growth  stage  to 


LOBLOLLY     ]»INE     WOODLAND.  Ifil 

cause  the  tbrniation  of  clear  holes.  Dwarfed  and  defective  trees 
passed  over  in  Innihering  may  l)e  left  until  after  a  stand  is  secured, 
as  seed  from  them  will  materially  aid  in  ohtaining  an  even  distri- 
htition  of  the  youno;  crop;  but  they  should  be  removed  as  soon  as 
regeneration  is  assured. 

Seed  for  planting  should  be  gathered  in  autunan,  between  the 
middle  of  October  and  the  early  part  of  November,  care  being- 
taken  to  keep  them  dry  until  sown.  If  the  weather  is  at  all 
moist  and  warm,  planting  should  take  place  at  once.  This  will 
enable  the  seed  to  germinate  and  root  before  winter.  Otherwise 
they  should  be  kept  dry  until  early  spring  and  planted  not  later 
than  the  first  of  April. 

Only  slight  preparation  of  the  soil  is  needed  for  planting.  All 
broad-leaf  trees  should  be  removed,  and  a  plowing  to  destroy  the 
turf  lessens  the  danger  of  the  young  pines  being  choked  by  tlie 
grass.  Froni  sowings  carried  on  at  Rladenboro  as  experiments,  it 
would  seem  to  take  about  five  pounds  of  seed  to  the  acre,  there 
being  about  10,000  seed  to  the  pound. 

LOBLOLLY     I'INE    WOODLAND. 

The  area  in  which  the  loblolly  pine  is  the  dominant  economic 
tree  includes  the  greater  part  of  the  uplands  north  of  the  Tar 
river;  most  of  the  area  lying  between  the  Tar  and  Xeuse  rivers, 
except  the  uplands  of  Edgecombe,  Wilson  and  Nash  counties 
which  are  occupied  conjointly  by  the  long-leaf  and  loblolly  pines; 
the  basin  of  the  Northeast  river  in  Duplin  and  Pender  counties  ; 
the  uplands  of  Jones  and  Lenoir  counties  and  a  great  portion  of 
the  uplands  of  Carteret,  Onslow  and  Brunswick  counties;  much  of 
Columbus  and  Robeson  ;  the  southeastern  corner  of  Richmond  ; 
the  eastern  part  of  Anson  and  smaller  areas  in  Sampson  and 
Bladen  counties. 

The  forests  of  this  pine  are  cliiefiy  confined  to  the  level  pine 
woodland  with  k:»amy  or  stiff  loamy  soils  as  were  described  in  the 
growth  of  the  long-leaf  pine  in  the  level  pine  woodland  (p.  loO). 

To  the  north  of  the  Neuse  river,  the  loblolly  pine  forms  a  pure 
forest  over  the  larger  portion  of  the  area,  as  it  also  does  in  a  large 
portion  of  the  coastal  counties  of  Carteret,  Onslow  and  Pender, 
11 


162  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

on  the  extensive  flats  of  the  Lumber  river  and  its  tributaries'  in 
Robeson  county,  and  on  the  loose  moist  sands  of  the  southeastern 
part  of  Anson  county.  Over  the  rest  of  the  area  the  forests  are 
more  broken,  consisting  of  small  groves  in  old  fields,  or  contain 
both  the  long-leaf  and  the  loblolly  pines. 

CONDITION  OF  THE  FORESTS. 

Where  unlumbered,  the  forests  of  loblolly  pine  are  compact, 
with  a  continuous  cover,  the  forest  floor  being  good  and  with  a 
moderately  deep  humus.  On  the  best  soils  the  trees  attain  a 
height  of  90  to  100  feet,  with  trunks  of  40  to  50  feet  free  from 
limbs.  On  poorer  soils,  especially  where  they  have  appeared 
spontaneously  in  abandoned  fields,  which  are  often  on  the  lighter 
lands  from  the  greater  ease  with  which  tilled,  the  trees  are  much 
smaller,  not  averaging  over  70  or  80  feet  in  height.  They  have, 
however,  proportionally  larger  diameters  than  taller  trees  and 
usually  shorter  boles,  the  growth,  when  young,  having  been  so 
open    that  the   trunks  have   not   cleared    themselves   from    limbs. 

Tliis  is  due  to  a  greater  number  of  the  trees  being  suppressed, 
more  light  being  necessary  for  growth  on  the  poorer  soils.  The 
loblolly  pine  generally  forms  an  upper  story  of  pure  growth, 
beneath  which  when  the  pine  cover  is  dense  there  is  a  lower 
storv  of  dogwood,  post  oak,  and  other  small  shade-enduring  trees  ; 
or  when  the  pine  cover  is  open,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  there  is 
a  sli2:htly  subordinate  growth  of  Spanish  oak,  black  oak,  and  post 
oak,  small  hickory,  and  sometimes  black  gum  and  other  trees. 
There  is  often  a  considerable  amount  of  young  growth  of  broad-leaf 
shade-bearing  species,  post  oak,  dogwood,  black  gum,  and  some- 
times black  oak  and  Spanish  oak,  whicli  survive  for  a  longer  or 
shorter  time  beneath  the  shade  of  the  other  trees,  the  dogwood 
and  post  oak  on  the  best  soils  even  reaching  maturity.  Young 
pines,  however,  are  wanting  ;  and  on  the  poorer  soils  broad-leaf 
tree  seedlings  only  stand  the  shade,  it  at  all,  for  a  short  time. 

"Where  the  forests  of  loblolly  pine  have  been  luml)ered  the  pine 
shows  for  a  few  years  no  signs  of  succeeding  itself,  as  there  are  no 
young  pine  seedlings  beneath  the  shade  of  the  mature  pines. 
Self-sown  seed,  however,  from  neighboring  trees  or  from   under- 


MERCHANTABLE  LOBLOLLY  PINE  TIMBER.  163 

sized  ones  left  in  lumbering,  even  small  trees  seeding  with  remark- 
able fecundity  and  regularity,  soon  produce  a  vigorous  stand  of 
young  pines  in  all  open  places  and  also  beneath  the  light  shade 
of  the  broad-leaf  trees  which  often  grow  beneath  the  mature 
pines.  This  young  stand  rapidh^  pushes  upward  through 
the  thin  canopy  to  secure  the  light.  As  the  oak  flats  are 
approached,  with  their  more  compact  and  taller  growing  broad- 
leaf  trees,  it  becomes  more  difficult  after  lumbering  for  the  lob- 
lolly pine  to  replace  itself.  The  rivalry  between  it  and  the  com- 
peting broad-leaf  trees  is  closer  and  more  in  favor  of  the  shade- 
bearing  broad-leaf  element  as  the  cover  is  less  broken,  until,  on 
the  ever-moist  margins  of  the  loamy-soiled  swamps,  and  particu- 
larly where  alluvial,  the  pine  forms  only  a  small  proportion  of 
the  entire  growth.  It  attains,  however,  in'such  situations  its  per- 
fection of  individual  development.  On  the  other  hand,  as  the 
drier  soils  are  approached  there  is  less  struggle  between  the  lob- 
lolly pine  and  the  broad-leaf  trees  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  porous, 
loose,  sandy  soils  of  the  pine  barrens  are  reached,  the  loblolly  pine 
with  its  delicate,  rather  superficial  root-system  is  unable  during 
the  seedling  stage  to  supply  by  its  roots  the  water  passed  off 
through  its  leaves  by  transpiration  and  it  succumbs  during  the  first 
season. 

MERCHANTABLE   LOBLOLLY  PINE  TIMBER. 

The  merchantable  timber  had  been  more  largely  removed  in  the 
eastern  counties  where  the  numerous  waterways  greatly  expedited 
exploitation  as  well  as  facilitated  shipment  of  the  manufactured 
products.  In  the  counties  lying  north  of  the  Roanoke  river  most 
of  the  loblolly  pine  suitable  for  saw  logs  has  been  cut ;  only  small 
bodies  attached  to  farms,  or  situated  at  a  distance  from  transpor- 
tation facilities  yet  remain.  Great  quantities  of  timber  have  been 
cut  during  the  past  twenty  years  for  the  local  mills,  the  largest  of 
which  are  located  at  Elizabeth  City;  and  even  larger  quantities 
have  been  exported  by  railways  and  towed  in  rafts  to  mills  in  the 
vicinity  of  Norfolk,  Va.  Timber  for  the  mills  at  Elizabeth  City 
is  now  obtained  from  the  forests  contiguous  to  the  Chowan  and 
Koanoke  rivers  and  from  the  counties  lying  on  the  southern  side 
of  Albemarle  sound.     There  are  still  large  amounts  of  pine  tim- 


164  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

ber  standing'  in  Dare  and  Hyde  counties.  Tlie  forests  of  Beau- 
fort, Washington  and  Martin  counties  have,  however,  been  nearly 
exhausted.  In  Pitt,  Edgecombe,  and  Green  counties  exploitation 
is  well  advanced  in  the  loblolly  pine  forests  near  the  railways  and 
water  courses,  while  the  greater  part  of  the  timber  has  been 
removed  from  Pamlico  and  Carteret  counties.  The  unlumbered 
pine  lands  of  Beaufort  county  lie  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county  ;  those  of  Craven  in  the  southwestern  part.  Bordering 
the  swamps  in  Duplin,  Onslow  and  Pender  counties  are  large 
Tinlumbered  areas  of  loblolly  pine  growth,  chiefly  where  this  pine 
has  superseded  the  long-leaf  pine  ;  and  in  Brunswick,  Columbus, 
Kobeson  and  Bladen  counties,  along  Brown  and  Green  marshes 
and  the  flats  of  Lumber  river  and  its  tributaries,  are  still  large 
quantities  of  merchantable  timber.  There  are  snialler  bodies  of 
timber,  though  scarcely  more  than  is  sufficient  for  local  use,  in 
Wilson,  Nash,  Johnson,  and  the  eastern  parts  of  W^ake  and  Anson 
counties. 

FOREST   INDUSTRIES. 

The  loblolly  pine  is  tapped  for  turpentine  only  to  an  inconsid- 
erable extent,  but  the  lumber  industries  of  all  of  the  towns  to  the 
north  of  the  Neuse  river  and  of  most  of  the  sea-board  towns  to 
the  south  of  it,  are  entirely  dependent  on  this  pine  for  their  logs. 
The  chief  seats  of  the  manufacture  of  loblolly  pine  lumber  are 
Newborn,  Washington,  Elizabeth  City,  Edenton,  Plymouth  and 
Wilmington.  The  annual  cut  of  logs  amounts  to  about  560,- 
000,000  feet,  boad  measure,  less  than  two-thirds  of  which  is  man- 
ufactured in  this  State. 

The  loblolly  pine  is  not  used  for  railyway  ties,  or  sleepers  of 
any  sort  placed  next  to  the  earth.  Railway  ties  for  local  nse  are 
made  from  the  post  oak  growing  beneath  the  pine.  The  dogwood 
is  converted  into  shuttle  blocks.  No  use  is  made  of  the  small  red 
oaks  and  other  small  trees  which  constitute  the  remainder  of  the 
forest. 

FOREST    PROTECTION. 

The  loblolly  pine  requires  little  protection  compared  with  the 
long-leaf  pine.     The  seed  is  small   and  is  not  seriously  destroyed 


REPRODUCTION     OF     LOBLOLLY     PINE    FORESTS. 


165 


l)y  animals  or  in  other  ways.  Tt  falls  during  the  late  antnnin  and 
winter  and  sprouts  during  the  tbllowino;  spring  and  by  the  end  of 
the  first  season  the  seedlings  have  reached  an  average  height  of 
about  seven  inches.  After  that  they  grow  at  a  rate  of  about  eigh- 
teen inches  a  year  for  seven  years,  so  that  specimens  four  or  five 
years  old  are  too  high  to  have  any  but  the  lower  branches  scorched 
by  a  tire  consuming  only  the  leaves  and  herbage.  The  thick  bark, 
too,  is  a  great  protection  to  even  small  trees.  Since  they  grow 
on  moister  soils  and  form  a  deeper  shade  than  the  long-leaf  pine 
which  prevents  the  growing  of  grass  there  is  less  danger  from 
iires.  Xot  being  boxed  or  worked  for  turpentine  the  mature 
trees  are  less  apt  to  be  destroyed  by  tires. 

AVhere  growing  on  drier  soils  the  growth  of  the  loblolly  pine  is 
not  so  rapid  later  in  life  as  in  the  early  years  and  the  scars  left  in 
the  natural  shedding  of  the  limbs  do  not  so  quickly  heal  over, 
many  of  the  trees  being  affected  by  fungus  diseases  which  gain 
access  through  such  openings. 

REPRODUCTION  OF  LOBLOLLY    PINE   FORESTS. 

In  old  fields  and  clearings  within  the  area  of  the  distribution 
(if  the  loblolly  pine  a  spontaneous  growth  of  loblolly  pine  quickly 
appears,  the  light,  winged  seed  being  dispersed  by  the  wind  for  a 
considerable  distance,  sometimes  hundreds  of  yards,  from  the  seed- 
bearing  trees.  The  production  of  seed  begins  at  an  early  age 
with  isolated  specimens,  sometimes,  when  they  are  under  ten 
vcars  old,  but  later  with  those  whose  crowns  do  not  receive  full 
^uulight,  and  continues  uninterrupted  for  a  great  many  years. 
There  is  seldom  a  year  when  some  trees  in  a  locality  do  not 
mature  cones,  since  the  trees  grow  under  such  diverse  conditions 
of  soils  and  moisture.  The  cones,  which  require  two  seasons  to 
develop,  open  and  the  seed  are  distributed  during  the  autumn 
and  winter  after  they  have  ripened,  some  remaining  unopened 
until  the  succeeding  spring.  The  seed  retain  their  germinative 
power  for  several  years,  but  usually  germinate  the  first  spring- 
after  falling  to  the  ground  or  after  being  planted. 

SYLVICULTURAL  TREATMENT   OF  THE   LOBLOLLY   PINE. 

The  selection   svstem   of  cuttinjj;,  cullino-,  was   formerlv   much 


166  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

practiced  in  the  loblolly  pine  woods  when  the  demand  was  almost 
entirely  for  pieces  of  timber  of  exceptionally  large  dimensions  for 
special  uses.  By  this  method  of  cutting  the  largest  specimens 
only  were  removed  and  the  smaller  allowed  to  continue  their 
growth  uninterruped.  This  was  before  kiln  dried  loblolly  pine 
lumber  became  a  feature  on  the  lumber  market  and  stocks  of  all 
sizes  of  this  pine  came  into  general  demand  for  lumber  purposes. 
Now  clear  cutting  is  the  rule  in  lumbering,  though  much  to  the 
detriment  of  the  forest. 

In  spite  of  The  naturally  abundant  reproductive  powers  of  the 
loblolly  pine,  much  can  be  done  during  and  subsequent  to  lum- 
bering to  facilitate  regeneration  and  secure  a  thick  stand  of  young 
pines.  With  clear  cuttings,  frequent  seed-bearing  trees  should  be 
left  to  insure  a  thorough  and  unifortn  seeding  of  the  area  at  as 
early  a  time  as  posssible.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  to  protect 
recently  lumbered  lands  from  fires,  as  in  the  event  of  one  while 
the  ground  is  encumbered  with  the  tops  of  the'felled  trees,  all  of 
the  young  pines  will  be  destroyed,  (battle  do  but  little  damage 
to  young  loblolly  pines. 

Existing  woods  of  compact  young  loblolly  pines,  in  which  the 
trees  have  reached  a  height  of  35  to  40  feet,  could  probaMy  be 
thinned  by  having  the  suppressed  and  subordinate  trees  removed, 
to  the  great  benefit  of  those  remaining,  aff"ording  more  light  to  the 
crowns  and  stimulating  rapid  enlargement  of  the  trunks.  Where 
dense  growth  is  left  to  natural  thinnings,  the  subordinate  groups, 
the  crowns  enduring  a  considerable  compression,  will  interfere 
for  some  years  with  the  larger  and  more  vigorous  specimens  which 
are  ultimately  to  survive.  By  securing  thick  stands,  however, 
during  the  early  stages  of  development  aind  thinning  at  the  right 
times,  chiefiy  when  the  period  of  most  rapid  height-growth  has 
passed,  the  accretion  secured  within  a  given  time  can  be  consid- 
erably increased  above  what  it  would  be  if  the  wood  were  left  to 
natural  suppression  and  a  prolonged  struggle  between  trees,  only 
a  small  proportion  of  which  are  ultimately  to  survive.  At  certain 
stages  of  development,  however,  the  thick  stands  and  the  struggle 
between  the  trees  to  secure  the  light  is  necessary  to  cause  the 
rapid  pushing  upward  of  the  crowns  and  tiie  formation  of  clean 
shafts. 


SYLYICULTURAL    TREATMENT    OF    THE    LOBLOLLY    PINE.  167 

In  many  places  where  small  but  vigorous-growing  broad-leaf 
species  have  succeeded  after  lumbering  in  securing  possession  of 
loblolly  pine  lands,  it  will  be  found  necessary  to  break  their  cover 
in  order  to  permit  the  pine,  unable  to  endure  a  heavy  shade,  to 
obtain  a  foothold.  On  some  areas  not  a  sufficient  number  of  seed- 
bearing  pines  were  left  to  thickly  seed  the  area  even  in  several 
years,  during  which  time  the  broad-leaf  trees  thicken  up  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  exclude  the  pine  altogether.  Where  the  pines  do 
come  lip  in  such  situation  they  make  rapid  heigiit-growth  and 
soon  overtop  the  broad-leaf  trees. 

Such  conditions  as  this  are  only  encountered  on  the  better  class 
of  soils.  In  such  places  either  enough  pines  must  be  left  to  insure 
thick  and  immediate  seeding,  or  the  broad-leaf  trees  must  be 
removed  or  tiiinned  simultaneously  with,  or  just  after,  the  cutting 
of  the  pines.  A  portion  of  the  underwood,  the  post  oak  and  dog- 
wood can  be  removed  without  any  extra  cost,  the  former  being  in 
demand  for  railway  ties  and  the  latter  for  shuttle  blocks,  etc.  In 
many  places  where  the  underwood  is  not  salable,  its  thinning  or 
removal  in  part  will  be  a  matter  of  necessity  in  order  to  secure  suc- 
cessful reproduction  of  the  pine. 

An  inspection  of  loblolly  pine  lands  which  were  closely  lum- 
bered 6  to  12  years  ago  fully  shows  that  regeneration  is  imperfect 
and  decidedly  irregular,  many  places  of  considerable  extent  being 
entirely  without  a  young  growth  of  pine. 

As  is  the  case  with  the  other  pines,  the  lol)lolly  can  be  repro- 
duced only  by  means  of  seed.  It  is  adapted  for  pure  growth  in  a 
high  forest  with  a  rotation  of  50  to  120  years,  according  to  the 
dimensions  of  the  timber  desired,  and  the  quality  of  the  soils;  or 
it  can  be  grown  on  the  best  grades  of  moist  or  damp  loams,  in 
mixed  woods  with  the  large  broad-leaf  species,  under  a  more 
lengthy  rotation  for  the  production  of  large-sized  timbers. 

The  trees,  especially  when  young,  endure  st»mo  shade,  and 
during  the  early  stages  of  development  the  crowns  are  capable  of 
withstanding  considerable  compression,  but  if  overshaded  for  a 
long  time  are  unable,  when  light  is  afforded  them,  to  regain  their 
vigor.  Its  easy  reproduction  by  means  of  the  light  seed  renders  it 
especially  adapted  to  clear  cuttings,  when  regeneration  can  be 
secured  from  adjoining  woods.      That  is,  it  is  adapted  to  the  group 


168  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  ■ 

system  of  natural  regeneration  with  large-sized  groups,  or  the 
strip  system,  with  groups  or  strips  not  over  three  hundred  to  four 
hundred  yards  wide.  This  is  the  method  of  regeneration  now 
roughly  relied  on  over  a  large  portion  of  the  eastern  counties, 
though  the  seed  from  under-sized  and  defective  trees,  left  on  the 
lumbered  area,  materially  assist.  To  make  certain  of  regenera- 
tion the  strips  cleared  at  one  time  should  not  have  a  greater 
width  than  four  hundred  yards. 

For  planting  very  little  preparation  of  the  soil  is  required. 
Thin  woods  of  broad-leaf  trees  can  have  loblolly  pine  planted 
with  them  if  their  cover  is  sufficiently  open  to  admit  of  the  growth 
of  the  pine,  wherever  the  humus  is  not  too  deep,  without  any 
more  preparation  of  the  soil  than  turning  over  the  humus.  Waste 
places  that  are  not  naturally  seeded  could  advantageously  be 
plowed  and  artiticially  planted.  Seeding  can  be  done  in  early 
spring,  the  seed  lieing  covered  by  harrowing  with  l)rush,  but 
should  not  be  covered  deeper  than  J  inch.  The  greater  part,  if 
not  all,  of  the  seed  will  germinate  the  same  year  in  wdiich  planted, 
usually  in  about  four  weeks.  About  four  pounds  of  seed  are 
required  to  sow  an  acre.  There  are  about  25,000  seed  to  the 
pound.      The  young  plants  must  be  carefully  protected  from  fires. 

TRANSITIONAL   FORESTS. 

The  transitional  forests,  lying  along  the  western  border  of  the 
coastal  plain  region,  are  formed  by  the  overlapping  of  the  conifer- 
ous fore.-t  of  the  pine  belt  and  the  broad-leaf  forests  of  the  Pied- 
mont plateau  region,  so  that  oaks  and  hickories  with  the  long-leaf 
pine  form  the  gi-eater  q^art  of  the  growth.  These  forests  are  best 
develo])ed  in  tlie  middle  and  southern  parts  of  Nash  county,  the 
eastern  part  of  Wake,  and  the  western  part  of  Montgomer3^  To 
the  north  of  Nash  county,  in  Northampton  and  Halifax  counties, 
it  is  only  occasion ;illy  along  crests  covered  with  sandy  drift  that 
the  forests  are  tyj)ically  developed;  elsewhere,  on  the  more  loamy 
soils,  the  broad-leaf  element  exists  witliont  the  long-leaf  pine,  and 
is  associated  with  the  short-leaf  and  loblolly  pines.  In  southeast- 
ern Chatham  and  southeastern  Randolph  counties  the  long-leaf 
])iiio  also  occasionally   occurs   along  sandy  or  gravelly   crests,  but 


FORESTS    OK    THK     LOWLANDS    OF    THE    COASTAL     PLAIN.  169 

the  area  occupied  by  it  is  comparatively  small.  The  transi- 
tional forest  is  best  developed  in  the  western  part  of  Montgomery 
county,  where  it  forms  a  belt  three  to  six  miles  in  width.  The 
trees  jnost  abundantly  associated  with  the  long-leaf  pine  are  the 
black-jack  oak,  post  oak,  Spanish  oak,  and  white  oak,  and  white 
hickory  ;  these  form  a  low  growth,  30  to  50  feet  in  height,  and  are 
overtopped  by  the  long-leaf  pine,  which  is  60  to  90  feet  in  height. 
In  some  localities  the  pine  forms  as  mu(;h  as  one-fourth  of  the 
entire  growth  ;   usually,  however,  much  less. 

The  loblolly  pine  which  is  associated  with  the  broad-leaf  trees 
in  these  transitional  counties,  is  very  largely  second  growth. 

The  long-h^af  pine  lias  been  extensively  culled  in  AVake  and 
Nasi)  counties,  and  1)ut  little  merchantable  timber  of  that  species 
remains  :  in  Montgomery  county,  however,  the  forests  are  still 
intact. 

1'he  long-leaf  pirn-  is  failing  to  reproduce  itself  in  these  forests 
for  the  same  reasons  that  were  given  for  its  scant}'  reproduction  in 
its  competition  with  the  loblolly  pine  ;  here,  the  competition  is 
with  broad-leaf  species. 

All  the  transitional  forests  lie  within  the  Piedmont  plateau 
region,  the  forest  soils  being  derived  for  the  most  part  from  crys- 
talline rocks,  and  are  more  fertile  or  at  least  better  suited  for  tree 
growth  than  most  of  the  soils  in  the  coastal  plain  on  which  the 
long-leaf  pine  is  found  growing. 

FORESTS   OF   THE   LOWLANDS   OF   THE   COASTAL   PLAIN. 

These  forests  occur  on  lands  which  are  swam])y  or  inundated 
during  at  least  a  part  of  the  growing  season,  and  are  naturally 
separable  into  four  divisions  which  differ  in  the  character  of  the 
dominant  economic  growth  :  i 

(1.)  Iif  which  numerous  broad-leaf  trees,  chiefly  oaks,  constitute 
the  greater  portion  of  the  growth — the  oak  fiats. 

(2.)  In  which  gums  and  cypress  constitute  the  chief  growth 
— the  gum  and  cypress  swam])?. 

[?>.)   In  which  the  white  cedar  occurs — the  white  cedar  swamps. 


170  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

(4:.)  In  which  the  pond  pine  forms  the  greater  portion  of  the 
giowth  or  is  tlie  hirgest  tree — ])oiid  pine  pocosins. 

OAK     FLATS. 

The  oak  liats  border  most  of  tlie  gum  and  cypress  swamps^ 
Ij'ing  between  the  gum  and  cjpress  swanjps  and  the  level  ])ine 
lands.  They  constitute  ab>ut  one-fourth  of  the  swamp  area,  or 
1,000  square  miles.  The  soils  are  damp  or  moist  usually  deep 
loams,  or  more  often  sandy  loams,  generally  inundated  during 
spring,  with  a  good  humus  and  a  fair  intermixture  of  vegetable 
matter  in  the  top-soil. 

Their  growth  is  entirely  of  I)road  leaf  trees,  in  places  with 
occasional  loblolly  pines  disseminated  among  them,  but  the  white 
and  water  oaks  are  characteristic.  Water  and  willow  oaks  skirt 
the  Hats.  Swamp  chestnut  oak  and  overcup  oak,  Spanish  oak, 
and  occasional  white  oaks  form  a  great  part  of  the  growth  of  the 
interior;  witii  them,  elms,  red  maple,  cottonwood,  and  more  or 
less  sweet  gum  and  water  gum.  These  form  an  upper  story  80  to 
100  feet  in  height,  and  of  consideralile  density  ;  beneath  them  are 
many  small  trees,  ])ost  oak,  hornbeam,  and  iiaws. 

Where  not  suppressed  by  browsing  cattle,  or  the  shade  is  not 
too  dense,  ynung  seedlings  of  most  of  the  trees  are  represented. 
All  of  the  trees  endure  a  light  shade  in  youth  ;  J:he  willow  and 
water  oaks  least,  the  white  and  overcup  oaks  the  deepest  and  for 
the  longest  period.  In  mo.st  localities  pasturage  is  regularly 
practiced,  this  woodland  being  esteemed  the  best  grazingground 
for  cattle  during  the  spring  and  summer,  and  the  young  gi-owth 
of  tender  broad-leaf  species  is  systematically  suppressed.  Pine 
and  the  more  vigorously  sprouting  and  rapidly  growing  s]>ecie& 
and  those  seeding  most  alnmdantly — cottonwood,  water  oak  and 
wuUow  oak — largely  replace  windfalls  and  culled  specimens. 
The  seed  of  the  swamp  chestnut  oak,  overcup  and  white  oaks  are 
largely  destroyed  by  Jiogs  ;  the  seed  of  the  other  oaks  to  a  less 
extent. 

There  is  so  little  undergrowth,  and  these  woods  are  so  damp, 
that  iires  rarely  pass  through  the  liats  or  do  any  serious  damage. 
Much  of  tlie  best  white  oak,  the  sevtn'al  species,  and  Spanish  oak. 


OAK    FLATS.  171 

has  been  culled  for  making  staves  or  for  large-sized  timber — tnn 
timber — for  shipbuilding,  water  and  willow  oaks  or  pine  having 
replaced  them.  The  soils,  being  fertile,  extensive  areas  have  been 
drained  and  put  under  cultivation.  Where  such  areas  are  aban- 
doned the  loblolly  pine  with  sweet  gum,  and  if  seed-bearing  trees 
be  very  near,  water  and  willow  and  Spanish  oaks  establish  them- 
selves ;  the  pines  first  and  most  abundantly,  the  others  later  and 
in  less  numbers.  If  not  thoroughly  drained,  the  oaks  will  in  time 
supersede  the  pine  or  a  portion  of  it. 

Where  the  soil  of  the  oak  flats  becomes  at  all  peaty  yellow  pop- 
lar occurs,  but  only  occasional  trees  among  the  others.  It  is  most 
frequent  in  the  series  of  counties  facing  the  sounds. 

In  a  few  places  in  the  vicinity  of  the  coast,  or  near  large  bodies 
of  Avater  where  the  air  is  especially  humid,  there  is  a  considerable 
intermixture  of  beech  with  the  oaks. 

In  connection  with  the  oak  flats  may  be  considered  the  greater 
part  of  the  alluvial  bottom  lands  bordering  the  larger  streams 
that  have  their  headwaters  beyond  the  coastal  plain  region. 
These  fluvial  soils  are  silty,  a  mixture  of  the  finest  clayey  and  sili- 
cious  particles,  with  a  varying  proportion  of  decomposing  vege- 
table matter  intermixed.  The  silt  becomes  finer  and  the  soils 
more  compact  as  the  coast  is  neared.  On  the  more  elevated  parts 
of  these  bottoms  where  the  periodic  overflow  is  neither  too  fre- 
quent, or  the  rise  of  the  water  too  deep,  there  is  a  mixed  growth 
of  broad-leaf  trees.  Variations  in  the  kind  of  trees  occur  accord- 
ing to  the  depth  and  frequency  of  the  overflow. 

AVhere  the  soils  are  drier  the  water  and  willow  oaks,  white  oak 
and  the  Spanish  oak  with  shagbark  hickory  form  most  of  the 
woods;  where  wetter,  ash,  cottonwood,  and  hackberry  are 
largely  intermixed,  these  being  replaced  on  the  wettest  soils  by 
sweet  gum,  water  gum  and  tupelo  with  cypress  and  some  cot- 
tonwood and  swamp  ash. 

The  white  oak  and  ash  have  been  extensively  culled  from  these 
swamps,  and  merchantable  cypress  has  been  largely  removed. 

These  woods,  when  oaks  predominate  in  them,  are  practically 
under  the  same  conditions  and  require  about  the  same  system  ot" 
management  as   \vill  be  indicated  for  the  oak  flats.     The  white 


Li'Ji  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

and  Spanish  oak  are  to  be  favored  at  the  expense  of  the  other 
less  valuable  kinds  of  trees,  which  if  left  alone  are  apt  to  take 
their  place.  On  the  alluvial  lands  the  species  usually  succeeding- 
the  oaks  are  the  light-seeded  sweet  gum,  cottonwood,  sycamore, 
and,  to  a  less  extent,  hackberry  and  loblolly  pine. 

MERCHANTABLE  TIMBER  ON  THE  OAK  FLATS. 

The  largest  areas  from  which  the  white  oak  has  not  been 
severely  culled  lie  in  Bladen,  Onslow,  Jones  and  Pamlico  coun- 
ties. They  will  cut  to  the  acre  from  40  to  60  cords  of  mixed  hard- 
woods. Where  culling  of  white  oak  has  long  been  practiced 
water  oaks  have  gradually  replaced  them,  in  a  great  measure  at 
least. 

These  forests  yield  excellent  white  oak  timber  and  some  *'  red'" 
oak  (Spanish  oak)  of  large  dimensions,  and  suitable  for  milling- 
purposes  ;  yellow  poplar  and  cottonwood  for  paper-stock  ;  a  limited 
amount  of  red  maple,  and  large  quantities  of  white  oak  railway  ties. 

SYLVICULTURAL  TREATMENT. 

The  seed  of  such  species  as  it  is  desirable  to  reproduce  should 
be  protected  from  hogs,  and  cattle  should  be  excluded  from  all 
young  growth,  until  it  is  too  large  for  them  to  injure. 

The  most  valuable  trees  occurring  on  the  oak  fiats  are  the  sev- 
eral species  of  white  oak  and  the  Spanish  oak,  and  forest  manage- 
ment should  have  for  its  object  the  increasing  of  the  proportion  of 
these,  and  preventing  the  water  oaks  and  other  less  valuable  spe- 
cies from  supplanting  them. 

On  large  areas  where  indiscriminate  culling  has  to  a  great 
extent  removed  the  species  of  white  oak,  less  valuable  trees  have 
already  followed,  and  but  little  can  he  done  in  the  way  of  natural 
regeneration  to  raise  the  standard.  Artificial  re-introduction  of 
the  white  oaks  is  necessary.  This  can  be  accomplished  by  thin- 
ning the  existing  wood  of  the  least  desirable  species  or  by  remov- 
ing decrepit  specimens,  and  underplanting  with  acorns,  preferably 
with  those  of  the  swamp  chestnut  oak,  since  in  the  latitude  of 
tliis  State  that  is  the  most  vigorous-growing  species  and  reaches 
the  largest  size  on   such   soils.      Or,  the  swamp  chestnut   oak  or 


THE    GUM    AND    CYPBESS    SWAMPS.  173 

other  desired  species,  ean  be  irj  trod  need  gradually  beneath  such 
breaks  iu  the  cover  as  are  occasioned  from  time  to  time  by  wind- 
falls or  by  culling. 

If  the  underplanting  is  done  by  seeding,  and  where  acorns  are 
abundant  or  can  be  cheaply  obtained  this  is  the  pieferable  way, 
being  less  expensive  than  raising  young  plants  in  nursery  rows  and 
then  transplanting,  the  acorns  should  be  gathered  in  the  autumn,  as 
soon  as  they  have  fallen  ;  if  they  are  to  be  kept  for  spring  plant- 
ing they  should  be  deeply  packed  in  fresh  sand  on  the  north  side 
of  a  barn  or  some  other  cool  situation.  If  the  acorns  of  the  ciiest- 
nut  oak  are  allowed  to  lie  on  the  ground  too  long  after  falling, 
particularly  if  the  weather  is  moist  and  warm,  a  great  part  of 
them  will  have  begun  to  sprout  and  then  cannot  well  be  kept  ov^r 
winter.  The  acorns  of  this  oak  are  more  difficult  to  keep  over 
winter  than  those  of  any  other,  and  they  retain  their  germinative 
power  for  the  shortest  time.  For  these  reasons  it  may  be  advisa- 
ble to  sow  in  the  autumn,  though  some  of  the  acorns  may  be  car- 
ried oif  by  squirrels  and  mice,  and  there  is  a  possibility  that  such 
as  do  not  sprout  and  take  root  in  the  autumn,  as  most  of  them, 
however,  will,  may  be  carried  oif  by  high-water. 

The  oak  flats  and  the  narrow  alluvial  bottoms  are  the  only 
lands  in  the  coastal  plain  region  which  are  capable  of  producing 
a  growth  of  large-sized  broad-leaf  trees,  and  for  this  reason  they 
assume  a  greater  irapoitance  than  their  limited  area  would  other- 
wise seem  to  justify.  Whatever  in  the  way  of  yellow  poplar  or 
oak  timber  suitable  for  saw-logs,  or  of  hickory  for  meciianical 
purposes,  is  to  be  grown  in  the  coastal  plain  region  must  come 
either  from  the  oak  flats  or  the  alluvial  bottoms. 

THE    GUM    AND    CYPRESS    SWAMPS. 

The  gum  and  cypress  occupy  the  deepest  parts  of  nearly  all  the 
swamps  which  have  a  suthciently  porous  soil  to  permit  the  pene- 
tration of  the  deeply  seated  cypress  roots  and  which  are  not  sub- 
ject to  drying  out  in  the  late  summer  ;  and  even  though  the  sur- 
face may  be  very  dry  in  dry  seasons,  if  the  subsoil  be  well  watered 
and  porous,  these  trees  may  still  flourish.     (Plate  XXI.) 


174  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

They  seem  to  be  rather  indifferent  to  the  quality  of  the  soil, 
attaining  a  large  size  and  comparative  tliick  growth  on  even  the 
sandy  soils,  provided  they  are  well  watered.  The  presence  of  a 
deep  humus  which  has  been  uninjured  by  lire  has  undoubtedly 
much  influence. 

On  the  sedimentary  alluvial  soils  the  growth  is  fiomllO  to  125 
feet  in  height,  and  it  is  somewhat  less  on  sandy  soil. 

The  body  of  the  wood  is  formed  of  sweet  gum,  water  gum  and 
tupelo,  with  these  more  or  less  cypress,  which  however  seldom 
constitutes  as  much  as  one-fourth  of  the  entire  growth.  Beneath 
these  are  small  water  ash,  and  young  trees  of  species  represented 
in  the  dominant  growth,  in  all  stages  of  development.  The  trees 
are  all  shade-enduring  in  their  youth  and,  probably  with  the 
exception  of  the  water  gum,  all  shade-demanding  in  the  earliest 
seedling  stages. 

It  is  not  often  that  fires  do  damage  to  these  swamps,  as  through 
the  winter  and  spring  they  are  too  wet  to  burn  ;  but  sometimes  in 
dry  autumns  the  underwood  is  destroyed  with  great  loss. 

The  injury  inflicted  by  browsing  cattle  is  slight. 

MERCHANTABLE  TIMBER  OF  GUM   AND  CYPRESS  SWAMPS. 

The  supply  of  cypress  suitable  tbr  making  either  board  or  shin- 
gles is  nearly  exhausted.  In  the  Pamlico  peninsula  several  large 
bodies  are  yet  intact  ;  scattered  trees  still  stand  along  most  of  the 
larger  streams  :  Roanoke,  Tar,  Neuse,  Northeast  and  Cape  Fear 
rivers;  smaller  bodies  are  yet  to  be  found  in  many  of  the  other 
swamps,  such  as  those  surrounding  Lake  Waccamaw,  Big  Swamp 
in  Bladen  county,  and  others. 

Except  in  the  few  places  where  the  forests  have  been  unlum- 
bered  the  cover  is  broken  and  irregular  from  the  removal  of  the 
mature  cypress.  The  thickets  of  water  and  sweet  gums  growing 
beneath  them  have  rapidly  pushed  upward  to  take  the  place  of 
the  cypress  on  its  removal. 

While  the  timber  of  the  cypress  is  of  the  most  excellent  quality, 
its  natural  powers  of  reproduction  are  so  limited  and  the  accre- 
tion of  the  trees  after  the  height-growth  is  made  is  so  slow  that 
the  outlook   for  extensive  reproduction    is  far  from  encouraging. 


WHITE    CEDAR    OR    JUNIPER    SWAMPS.  175 

Although  the  cypress  does  not  discriminate  in  regard  to  mineral 
fertility  of  soil,  it  is  so  exacting  in  regard  to  moisture  that  the 
area  which  is  really  adapted  for  its  best  growth  for  timber  is 
exceedingly  limited.  The  trees  growing  on  the  margins  of  the 
swamps,  and  in  swamps  where  the  moisture  is  very  unequally  dis- 
tributed through  the  growing  season  have  a  far  larger  proportion 
of  sap  than  those  in  the  deep  swamps  and  are  often  seriously 
affected  with  hollows. 

Although  young  cypress  trees  in  all  stages  of  development  are 
to  be  seen  scattered  through  the  forests,  their  number,  in  com- 
parison with  the  competing  sweet  and  water  gums  is  insignificant. 
Their  height-growth,  however,  is  rapid  until  the  trunk  begins 
the  formation  of  the  characteristic  short,  flattened,  spreading 
crown.  After  the  attainment  of  the  height-growth,  the  diameter 
growth,  the  stage  of  most  rapid  accretion,  is  sufficiently  rapid. 
The  trees  at  this  stage  have  a  diameter  of  from  14  to  18  inches, 
and  are  from  80  to  100  years  old,  and  are  still  largely  sapwood. 
The  diameter-growth  after  this  becomes  gradually  less,  until  in 
some  of  the  oldest  and  largest  trees  there  are  as  many  as  thirty 
rings  of  annual  growth  to  an  inch  of  diameter.  The  length  of 
time  required  to  reproduce  the  forests  which  are  now  being  util- 
ized will  not  be  less  than  200  or  2.50  years,  and  many  of  the  large 
trees  in  the  existing  forests  are  over  300  years  old.  For  most  of 
the  purposes,  too,  for  which  the  timber  is  used,  that  of  the  more 
rapid-growing  white  cedar  is  equally  as  well  adapted.  The  area 
of  such  swamp  land  suitable  for  the  growth  ^f  cypress  is  not  far 
from  300,000  acres,  while  the  area  of  gum  swamp  is  over  1,200 
square  miles. 

WHITE    CEDAR    OR    .lUNIPER    SWAMPS. 

The  woodland  in  which  the  white  cedar  is  the  dominant  tree 
occupies  small  shallow  swamps,  "  bays  '';  or  not  infrequently  there 
occur  groups  of  a  few  trees  disseminated  through  gum  and  cypress 
swamps,  or  more  rarely  in  beech  and  yellow  poplar  flats  where  the 
soil  and  moisture-conditions  become  favorable  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  white  cedar  and  less  favorable  for  that  of  the  larger 
broad-leaf  trees. 


176  FORESTS     OF    NORTH     CAROLINA, 

The  most  extensive  bodies  of  such  swamp  lie  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  coast  in  the  great  Dismal  Swamp  ;  in  the  conntiet*  of  Dare  and 
Hyde ;  and  the  Pamlico  peninsula,  where  the  cedar  occurs  in 
small  groups  in  a  morass,  the  growth  in  which  varies  a  great  deal 
as  the  amount  of  moisture  in  the  soil  becomes  greater  or  less. 
There  are  other  large  bays  in  Pamlico  connty,  and  on  the  flats 
surrounding  and  contiguous  to  Lake  Wac(-an)aw.  Smaller  bodies 
are  scattered  along  the  sandy  bottoms  of  the  Chowan  river,  and 
occupy  small  bays  in  Jones  and  Bladen  counties,  and  the  shallow' 
flats  bordering  the  clear-water  streams,  in  Bladen,  Cumberland, 
Richmond,  Harnett  and  Moore  counties.  On  the  State's  northern 
border  white  cedar  occurs  at  an  altitude  of  100  feet  above  sea 
level  ;  in  Moore  and  Richmond  counties,  at  twice  that  elevation. 
Its  further  distribution  to  the  westward  is  checked  by  unfavorable 
soil-conditions.  The  total  area  of  white  cedar  swamp  does  not 
exceed   200,000  acres. 

The  white  cedar  is  confined  to  sandy  or  peaty  soils.  In  the 
maritime  counties  it  occurs  chiefly  on  peaty  soils,  often  underlaid 
by  marls  ;  in  the  njore  inland  and  southern  counties  it  is  found 
along  the  sandy  beds  of  small  streams  or  the  contiguous  sandy 
flats  subject  to  frequent  overflow;  or  it  occupies  snjall  depressions 
in  the  sandy  soils  of  the  long-leaf  pine  forests  forming  the  juniper 
bays.      It  shuns  the  heavy   alluvial  soils. 

CONDITION  OF  UNLUMBERED  WHITE  CEDAR   SWAMPS. 

On  the  peaty  soils  of  the  best  character,  especially  where  lying 
above  beds  of  loam  or  marl,  white  cedar  is  associated  with  yellow 
poplar,  the  gums  and  bays,  wherever  the  amount  of  moisture  and 
the  undecomposed  organic  constituents  become  too  great  for  the 
growth  of  the  oaks.  On  somewhat  better  soils  it  forms  dense 
clumps  of  nearly  pure  growth  where  openings  occur  in  the  caver 
of  the  dominant  story  of  yellow  poplars  and  gums.  In  the  depres- 
sions in  the  pine  liarren  sections  in  the  white  cedar  or  juniper 
bays  it  constitutes,  with  the  white  l)ay  and  the  red  bay,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  growth,  forming  a  dense  wood  60  to  70  feet  in 
height,  the  crowns  of  the  trees  closely  interlocking  above,  their 
trunks  thick,  straight  and  slender  ;  beneath  them,  and  in   their 


CONDITION    OF    UNLUMBERKD     WHITE    CKDAU    SWAMPS.  ITT 

deep  shade,  are  almost  impenetrable  thickets  of  young  trees  and 
shrubs.  The  forest  tlooi-  is  a  thick  humus  or  is  deeply  bedded  in 
spluigiinu).  Oti  the  sandy  fiats  bordering-  the  streams,  trees  of 
wliite  cedar  occur  scattered  in  a  rather  open  growth  of  small 
gums  and  bays,  and  reach  a  height  of  30  to  50  feet  and  a  diameter 
of  15  to  iin  inches;  the  humus  is  thin  and  the  undergrowth 
thickets  of  small  bushes. 

In  most  localities  the  cedar  swamps  have  been  exploited,  or  the 
removal  of  the  cedar  is  now  in  progress.  Ex(;ept  where  yellow 
poplar  forms  a  portion  of  tlie  wood,  the  white  cedar  is  tlie  only 
valuable  tree,  and  it  alone  lias  been  removed,  all  specimens  usually 
being  removed  that  have  a  greater  diameter  than  8  inches  at  the 
stump.  Where  tlie  greater  part  of  trees  are  cedar,  the  cutting  is 
nearly  clean,  and  the  few  small  trees  that  are  left,  having  very 
slender  stems,  are  snapped  off  by  the  first  severe  storm  :  where 
there  are  more  broad-leaf  trees  present,  these  afford  protection  to 
the  young  growing-stock  too  small  to  cut.  Tiie  bays  and  gums 
that  are  left  make  rapid  growth  after  lumbering,  and  for  sometime 
retain  undisputed  possession  ;  the  extremely  small  white  cedar 
seedlings  beneath  them,  although  at  first  making  slow  growth  in 
the  shade,  finally  re-assert  themselves,  make  rapid  height-growth 
and  break  through  the  cover  above  them,  and  struggle  with  the 
broad-leaf  species  for  the  light.  If  the  swamps  are  burned,  as  is 
frequently  the  case  after  lumbering, and  the  burning  is  not  so  deeply 
in  the  soil  as  to  injure  the  roots  of  the  broad-leaf  trees,  they  will 
sprout  vigorously  from  stool  and  root ;  the  fire-tender  white  cedar, 
however,  will  be  entirely  destroyed,  and  only  after  a  great  many 
years  will  it  again  be  introduced  by  wind-sown  seed.  If  the  soil 
is  peaty,  and  is  very  deeply  burned,  its  ability  for  supporting  a 
growth  of  white  cedar  may  be  entirely  ruined. 

Only  a  small  |>roportioii  of  the  area  of  the  cedar  swamps  has 
lieen  deforested  fVu-  agi-i-'ultural  uses,  such  areas  being  the  best 
drained  of  the  j^eaty  soils  with  yellow  poj)lar  as  a  part  of  the 
growth,  and  such  cleared  lands  lie  chiefly  in  Dare  and  Pamlico 
counties  and  those  counties  which  penetrate  the  Uismal  Swamp. 
Agriculturally  these  lands  are  among  the  most  productive  in  the 
State.  A  few  other  areas  may  in  time  be  drained  and  reduced  to 
12 


178  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

tillag-e,  but  most  of  the  soil,  both  where  peatj  and  sandy,  is  unsuited 
for  agricultural  purposes,  and  the  permanency  of  the  growth  of 
white  cedar  on  it  should  be  accepted  as  an  assured  fact  and  pro- 
tection and  management  bestowed  on  it  accordingly. 

Fires,  in  dry  seasons,  when  the  peaty  soil  or  deep  humus 
becomes  thoroughly  dry,  sometimes  spread  from  the  pine  lands,  or 
from  farms,  to  the  white  cedar  swamps  and  inflict  severe  damage, 
destroying  not  only  the  young  growth,  but  much  of  the  old,  and 
burning  up  the  soil  as  well. 

Extensive  areas  of  unlumbered  forests  still  exist  in  Dare  and 
Tyrrell  counties,  and  smaller  in  Gates,  Jones,  and  Brunswick. 
Smaller  bodies  occur  in  Bladen,  Cumberland,  and  Harnett  counties, 
from  which  the  largest  specimens  have  been  culled  for  telegraph 
and  light  posts. 

TREATMENT  OF  WHITE  CEDAR  SWAMPS- 

The  white  cedar  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  trees  growing  in 
the  coastal  plain  region.  The  demand  for  its  timber,  on  account 
of  its  lightness  and  resistance  to  decay  on  exposure  to  moisture,  is 
far  in  excess  of  the  supply.  Though  exacting  in  regard  to  soil, 
its  ])references  are  for  such  lands  as  are  unsuited  for  agricultural 
uses.  Its  sylvicultural  treatment  is  beset  with  no  difficulties,  and 
its  rapid  growth  offeis  inducements  of  early  returns  to  whoever 
produces  it.  Where  culling  can  be  practiced,  and  only  the  largest 
stocks  removed,  the  largest  yields  of  timber  are  secured,  since  the 
young  trees  which  are  too  small  for  use  can  continue  their  growth 
uninterrupted,  sheltered  by  specimens  with  firm  trunks  which  can 
protect  tiiem  from  the  wind.  In  only  a  few  places,  however,  will 
economic  considerations  permit  this,  as  the  cost  of  cutting  road- 
ways, laying  trams  and  making  sound,  road-beds,  which  has  to  be 
undertaken  to  remove  this  timber,  is  so  great  that  the  cutting  to 
the  smallest  size  that  can  be  utilized  is  often  justifiable. 

Where  the  soil  is  sufficiently  wet,  not  so  much  shade  is 
demanded  by  the  very  young  plant  to  protect  it  from  the  sun; 
where  drier,  more  shade  is  necessary. 

As  seed-bearing  years  are  frequent,  and  the  light,  slightly  winged 
seed  are  borne  in  abundance,  modified  forms  of  clean  cutting  can 


TREATMENT    OF    WHITE    CEDAR    SWAMPS.  179 

be  carried  on  which  will  allow  regeneration  beneatli  the  shade  of 
the  parent  trees.  After  the  laying  out  of  the  system  of  roads,  a 
preparatory  cutting  can  be  made  in  which  most  of  the  larger 
specim.ens  can  be  removed,  being  selected  as  uniformly  as  possible 
so  as  to  distribute  the  light  below  evenly.  Then  two,  three  or 
four  years  later  all  of  the  remaining  trees  which  can  possibly  be 
utilized  can  be  removed,  waiting  though  until  after  there  has  been 
a  sufficiently  large  yield  of  seed  to  produce  a  thick  stand  of  seed- 
lings in  the  light  shade  caused  by  the  breaking  of  the  cover  of 
old  trees.  The  young  seedlings  the  second  year  after  they  have 
sprouted  will  be  able  to  endure  full  sunlight. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  area  of  white  cedar  growth  can 
be  much  extended  by  introducing  it  artificially  in  localities  which 
have  a  suitable  soil,  but  have  a  growth  of  bays  and  large  gums, 
which  by  their  somewhat  superior  growth  have  naturally  been 
able  to  exclude  the  white  cedar.  The  proportion  of  it  can  also 
be  increased  in  situations  where  it  already  grows  by  removing 
competing  species, — bays  and  gums,  and  permitting  the  cedar  by 
natural  seedings  to  take  their  place. 

Artificial  propagation  must  be  by  seed,  and  as  has  ])een  sug- 
gested, must  be  carried  on  in  the  shade  of  some  other  tree  to  protect 
the  young  seedling  from  too  rapid  evaporation  during  the  first 
summer  and  autumn  while  the  root-system  is  as  yet  comparatively 
undeveloped,  shallow,  and  insufficient  to  supply  water  as  rapidly 
as  it  passed  off  by  transpiration.  The  seed,  which  are  borne  in 
small  berry-like  cones,  are  very  small  and  slightly  winged.  The 
cones  should  be  gathered  in  the  early  autumn,  before  they  have 
opened  or  fallen,  and  while  the  seed  are  yet  in  them,  kept 
througli  the  winter  in  a  place  where  they  will  not  dry  out,  and 
planted  the  next  spring  by  sowing  broadcast  beneath  the  trees 
that  are  to  serve  as  protection  to  the  young  plants. 

THE    POJSD    PINE    POCOSINS. 

These,  as  the  name  implies,  have  the  pond  pine  as  the  distinc- 
tive growth.  With  it  are  the  white  bay,  red  bay,  and  loblolly 
bay,  and  less  frequently  small  black  gums  and  loblolly  pines. 

During  certain  seasons  of  the  year  these   pocosins  are  swamps 


ISO  FORESTS    OF     NORTH    CAROLINA. 

or  senii-swamps.  When  tliey  occupy  the  snminits  of  the  dividet- 
between  waterslieds,  as  is  tlie  ease  with  some  of  the  largest,  they 
are  poorly  drained  and  often  wet.  They  include  two  classes; 
(1)  Those  having  a  primarily  pauperized  soil  of  coarse  sand,  or 
of  finer  sand,  silty,  and  more  compact.  (2)  Those  having  an 
impervious  stratum  of  clay,  eilt  or  hard-pan  underlying  the  top- 
soil  ajid  preventing  percolation  .of  the  water  to  underground 
streams  or  its  exit  by  subsoil  drainage.  The  latter  may  have 
soil  rich  in  nutritive  elements  though  eminently  un]iroductive. 
During  winter  and  spring  such  soils  are  s;jturated  ;  during  sum- 
mer and  autumn,  frotn  inability  of  subsoil  moisture  to  rise  to  the 
surface  through  the  impervious  layer,  they  are  exceedingly  dry. 

The  largest  areas  of  such  swamji  lie  in  Bladen,  Craven.  Jones, 
Pamlico,  Tyrrell  and  Washington  counties  ;  while  a  (considerable 
portion  of  tlie  Dismal  Swamp,  in  the  northeastern  cornei-  of  the 
State,  has  a  soil  and  growth  of  this  character. 

The  forest,  even  in  the  best  condition,  is  exceedingly  open  and 
thin,  there  being  an  irregular  growth  of  pine  40  to  HO  feet  in 
height,  the  mature  trees  averaging  about  14  inches  in  diameter, 
and  a  denser  underw^ood  of  small  white  bay,  red  liay  and  loblolly 
bay,  almost  impenetrable  on  account  of  the  thicket  of  the  gall- 
berry,  huckleberry,  and  species  of  Andromeda  and  similar  shrubs 
beneath  them.  AVhere  the  soil  is  of  better  quality,  either  more 
fertile,  or  because  the  impenetrable  substratum  is  deeper  beneath 
the  surface,  there  is  more  pine,  often  a  considerable  part  of  it  being 
loblolly,  and  the  underwood  is  less  dense.  Where  the  soil  is  least 
fertile  there  is  least  pine  and  a  denser  thicket  of  shrubs. 

Next  to  the  long-leaf  pine  the  pond  pine  is  less  exacting  in 
regard  to  fertility  of  soil  than  the  other  pines,  growing,  in  manv 
places,  on  the  soils  which  if  dry  the  long-leaf  pine  would  occupy. 
The  young  plants  of  the  pond  pine  will  endure  a  considerable 
shade  for  many  years.  When  young  specimens  are  accidentally 
broken,  eaten  ofl:"  by  "cattle,  or  top-killed  by  fire,  they  sprout 
freely.  During  dry  seasons  confiagrations  sometimes  consume 
the  shrubby  underwood,  destroying  much  of  the  timber.  When 
the  pines  are  thus  burned  out,  the  white  bay  puts  forth  abundant 
suckers,  forming  dense  thickets,  and  the  red  bay  numerous  shoots  ; 


FORESTS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    PLATEAU     REGION. 


isf 


the  pine,  however,  in  time  returns.  Althouojh  seed-years  are  fre- 
quent, the  crop  is  usually  small.  The  cones  remain  attached  to 
the  limbs  for  a  long  period,  often  retaining  the  seed  for  several 
seasons.  The  seed  retains  its  gerininative  powers  for  many  years 
and  may  sprout  the  spring  of  the  first  or  second  season  after  fall- 
ing to  the  ground.  As  the  trees  do  not  grow  in  thick  stands,  they 
fail  to  clear  their  stocks  until  of  a  large  size.  Through  the  dead 
branches  and  knot-holes  maiiy  rot-causing  fungi  find  entrance. 
Many  large  trees  are  unsound  from  this  cause. 

This  pine  produces  very  little  merchantable  timber,  though  if 
fires  are  kept  from  destroying  them  the  yield  would  not  only  be 
larger  but  of  a  better  quality.  In  a  few  limited  districts  a  con- 
siderable part  of  the  saw-logs  are  from  this  species.  It  is  chiefiy 
of  importance  on  account  of  the  large  areas  in  the  State  on  which 
it  occurs  as  the  only  timber  tree. 

FORESTS    OF  THE  PIEDMONT  PLATEAU  REGION. 

The  differences  in  the  character  of  the  forests  of  the  Piedmont 
plateau  region  are  the  results  of  the  infiuence  of  variations  in 
the  ijuality  of  the  soils,  and  in  the  altitude  of  the  surface 
above  the  sea  level.  The  precipitation  is  nearly  the  same 
in  all  sections  of  the  region,  and  there  is  very  little  differ- 
ence in  the  relative  humidity  between  even  extreme  localities 
within  its  limits;  so  these  factors  exert  only  unimportant  influ- 
ence. The  variations  in  elevation,  too,  are  so  gradual  through- 
out the  greater  part  of  the  region  as  to  affect  only  slightly 
the  composition  of  the  forest,  except  when  those  of  extreme 
distances  are  compared  ;  but  on  the  southeastern  border,  on  the 
abrupt  rise  marking  the  transition  to  this  region  from  the  coastal 
plain,  these  forests  contain  certain  species  which  are  representa- 
tive of  the  latter  region,  the  distribution  of  some  trees  extending 
even  much  further  to  the  westward  ;  while  other  species  charac- 
teristic of  the  sylva  of  the  higher  mountains  ])enetrate  from  the 
northwest  far  to  the  eastward,  but  usually  occur  only  around  the 
^purs  of  the  Blue  Ridge  or  the  isolated  peaks  situated  beyond  them 
in  the  Piedmont  plateau.     The  forests  of  the  eastern  lowlands  of 


182  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

the  Piedmont  plateau  contain  the  greater  number  of  species  that 
are  representative  of  the  sylva  of  the  coastal  plain. 

The  distribution  of  the  economic  forests,  however,  is  deter- 
mined largely  by  the  character  of  the  soils. 

The  forests  of  tlie  lowlands  are  of  relatively  small  extent  and 
importance;  while  those  of  the  uplands  are  extensive  and  vield 
nearly  all  the  timber  suitable  for  construction. 

THE   FORESTS   OF   THE    PIEDMONT    LOWLANDS. 

The  lowlands  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region  instead  of  embrac- 
ing broad  swamps  are  conhned  to  narrow  borders  of  sedimentary 
origin  along  the  streams.  Their  forest  growth  is  composed 
entirely  of  broad-leaf  species  except  in  the  eastern  bordei-  coun- 
ties, where  occasional  loblolly  pines  are  found  mixed  with  the 
hardwoods.  ^ 

The  lowland  forests  may  be  divided  into  (1)  those  in  the  hol- 
lows and  bordering  the  smaller  streams,  where  the  soils  are  sandy 
loams  containing  a  large  proportion  of  organic  constituents  ;  and 
(2)  those  contiguous  to  the  larger  and  more  slowly  flowing  streams^ 
which  are  bordered  by  flats  having  silty  soils,  containing  tnore 
clayey  ingredients  and  less  vegetable  matter  than  those  of  the  bot- 
toms of  the  smaller  streams.  These  two  classes  of  forests  and 
soils,  sharply  defined  where  a  small  stream  flows  into  a  large  one,. 
gradually  pass  the  one  into  the  other  in  ascending  the  rivers. 

The  changes  in  the  character  of  the  growth  along  the  larger 
streams  take  place  gradually  as  the  changes  in  the  composition  of 
the  soils,  there  being  usually,  no  abrupt  transition  in  the  kind  of 
growth  of  different  portions  of  the  some  swamp,  as  occurs  in  the 
swamps  of  the  coastal  plain  region.  Many  species,  almndant 
along  the  lower  edge  of  the  region,  the  southeastern,  become  less 
frequent  as  the  streams  are  ascended  ;  others,  less  common  to  the 
eastward,  increase  in  number  as  the  soils  become  more  loamy  and 
the  Blue  Ridge  is  approached. 

The  loamy  alluvial  lands  contiguous  to  the  smaller  streams 
have-in  all  parts  of  the  region  very  nearly  the  same  kind  of  growth: 
beech,  red  oak,  and  white  oak,  maples  and  yellow  poplar,  while 
with  these  are  associated  many  smaller  trees:  the  hop-hornbeam. 


FORESTS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    LOWLANDS.  183 

ninbrella-tree  and  dogwood,  which  sometimes  are  snfiiciently 
nnmeroiis  beneath  the  deep  shade  of  the  more  lofty  trees  to 
form  a  thin  underwood.  As  these  soils,  however,  become  at  all 
silty  the  sweet  gnni  and  black  gum,  overciip  and  swamp  cliestnut 
oaks,  and  other  trees  which  are  more  representative  of  the  forests 
along  the  larger  streams  gradually  become  conspicuous;  sup- 
planting first  the  beecli  and  red  oak,  then  the  white  oak  and 
yellow  poplar,  and  finally  entirely  taking  their  place. 

The  body  of  the  forest  on  the  silty  or  mud  alluvium  of  the 
larger  streams  is  generally  formed  of  sweet  gum  aud  black  gum, 
bitternut,  overcup  oak  and  swamp  chestnut  oak,  sycajnore  and 
hackberry.  Of  these  trees  the  black  gum,  bitternut  and  syca- 
more are  uniformly  distributed  throughout,  although  nowhere 
abundant  or  forming  a  conspicuously  large  portion  of  the 
growth  ;  the}'  extend  beyond  the  confines  of  the  Piedmont 
plateau  and  enter  into  the  composition  of  the  forests  of  the  moun- 
tain region.  The  elms,  hackberry,  and  sweet  gum,  on  the  other 
hand,  become  smaller  in  size  and  less  frequent  to  the  westward, 
until  on  the  table-land  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge  they  become  rare 
trees,  occurring  only  in  the  basin  of  the  French  Broad  river  and 
along  the  larger  streams  to  its  southward.  The  overcui*  oak  is 
found  westward  but  little  beyond  the  limits  of  the  loblolly  pine  in 
Granville  county,  but  in  Anson  county  it  makes  a  broad  sweep  to 
the  west,  and  extends  up  the  valley  of  the  Yadkin  river,  as  far 
as  the  eastern  parts  of  Davie  and  the  southern  portions  of  Yadkin 
counties  ;  while  the  swamp  chestnut  oak  extends  west  to  the  Broad 
river  in  Cleveland  county  and  north  to  Granville  and  Davie.  To  the 
eastward  it  is  the  red  maple  which  is  the  characteristic  maple, 
while  the  sugar  maple  occurs  with  it  in  cooler  places  as  the  alti- 
tude increases,  extending  down  to  al)Out  .500  feet  al)ove  the  sea 
level.  With  these  trees  in  the  eastern  border  counties  occurs  the 
loblolly  pine;  and  very  often  as  far  to  the  west  as  Lincoln  county 
the  water  and  willow  oaks  are  found  ;  less  frequently  the  Texas 
red  oak,  and  in  a  few  places  the  big  shagbark  hickory.  On  the 
extensive  flats  of  the  Neuse  and  its  tributaries,  and  on  other 
streams  in  this  portion  of  the  State,  though  to  a  less  extent,  the 
shagbark     hickory   becomes    one   of    the   most    conspicuous     and 


184  FORESTS    OF     NORTH     CAROLINA. 

abundant  trees,  while  with  it  in  a  few  localities  is  found  the 
small  shag-bark. 

Beneath  the  taller  trees,  no  matter  what  kind,  especially  where 
the  cover  is  somewhat  open,  are  the  hornbeam  with  the  thorns  and 
haws,  and  often  papaw. 

To  the  eastward  a  few  broad  flats  occur,  the  soils  of  which 
remain  moist  or  even  wet,  but  are  rarely  inundated,  and  these 
are  covered  with  a  growth  of  water  oak,  overcup  oak  and  willow 
oak,  and  fringed  with  white  and  black  oaks.  The  broad  flats  of 
Little  river  in  Union.  Stanly  and  Anson  counties,  and  those 
along  some  other  streams  in  the  same  section  of  the  State,  are  of 
this  description. 

All  open  banks  where  there  is  full  sunlight  are  lined  with  river 
birch  and  black  willow ;  and  some  flats  which  are  subject  to 
frequent  and  periodic  overflow  are  covered  with  compact  groves 
of  willow  or  birch;  or  if  the  inundation  is  more  prolonged,  and 
this  is  })articularly  apt  to  be  the  case  eastward,  with  thickets  of 
small  ash  and  elm. 

Besides  these  lowlands  may  he  added  the  mud  or  clay  deposits 
in  depressions  on  the  crests  of  ridges,  usually  found  in  sections 
where  the  soils  are  shallow,  often  where  slates  are  the  country 
rock.  They  are  very  M^et  during  rainy  weather,  and  for  some  time 
afterwards,  as  there  is  little  subsoil  drainage  ;  but  during  the  sum- 
mer and  autumn  become  exceedingly  dry.  The  growth  on  such 
deposits  is  usually  entirely  of  willow  oak,  black-jack  oak  and  more 
or  less  ]-)ost  oak. 

Many  of  these  l)ottoms  with  a  loamy  soil,  particularly  where  the 
growth  was  the  white  oak  and  poplar,  representing  some  of  the 
most  fertile  land,  have  been  cleared.  Some,  however,  after  being- 
cleared,  have  been  found  untenable  on  account  of  the  overflow- 
ing, and  have  been  finally  abandoned.  Such  lands  are  usually 
covered  (juickly  by  heavy  thickets  ol  birch,  sycamore  and  elm, 
while  mai)les  and  gums,  whose  seedlings  grow  well  in  a  shade, 
soon  a})]iear  beneath  them. 

Where  lumbering  has  been  going  on  along  these  bottoms  or 
staves  gotten  out,  the  debris,  which  is  carried  off  by  the  streams, 
often  collects  at  shallow  points  so  as  to  block   the  channel   of  the 


FORESTS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT     LOWLANDS. 


185 


■stream,  and  back  the  water  for  some  distance  above,  killiiiii;  most 
•of  the  mature  trees  whicli  may  be  on  the  adjoining  bottom,  as  well 
as  a  greater  part  of  the  yonng  growth,  l)v  Hooding  their  roots. 
Dense  and  fast  growing  thickets  of  elm  and  ash,  and  rarely  blacdc 
glim,  appear  in  snch  places,  and  continue  unmixed  until  the  bed 
■of  the  swamp  is  sufficiently  raised  to  allow  other  trees  to  grow. 

The  oaks  on  all  of  these  bottoms  show  very  little  young  growth, 
if  the  water  oak  to  the  eastward  and  the  swamp  chestnut  oak  in 
some  localities  be  excepted.  Where  oaks  and  other  trees  have 
been  culled,  chiefly  maples  and  sweet  gums  have  taken  their 
places,  so  that  the  promise  of  the  bottom  lands  for  the  future  is 
not  bountiful,  nor  do  they  now  contain  any  large  supply  of  mer- 
chantable timber. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE   FORESTS  OF  THE   LOWLANDS. 

The  forests  of  the  bottom  lands  have  in  nearly  every  instance 
been  excessively  damaged  by  constant  pasturage.  -The  white  oaks 
liave  in  consequence  not  reproduced  as  al)uudantly  as  other 
■species  whose  foliat'e  and  seed  are  not  so  largely  interfered  with 
by  stock.  To  the  eastward  and  ahuig  the  stiffer-soiled  bottoujs 
the  overcup  oak  and  swamp  cliestnut  oak  are  the  most  worthy  of 
■extensive  reproduction  ;  to  the  westward  and  along  the  smallei' 
streams  M'here  the  soils  are  more  loamy  the  white  oak  is  more 
desirable.  Protection  must  be  accorded  these  in  same  way  as  was 
indicated  in  the  case  of  the  oak  flats  of  the  coastal  ]>lain  i-egion, 
and  regeneration  should  be  secured  in  the  same  way. 

Abandoned  fields  and  closely  culled  spaces  on  the  wetter  soils 
of  the  bottom  lands  are  ((uickly  sown  in  a  mixed  growth  of  light- 
seedetl  trees,  chiefly  birches,  willows  and  sycamore,  and  among 
them  soon  appear  ash  and  elms  and  other  species  demanding  a 
light  shade. 

Sometimes,  espe(;ially  along  fence  rows,  black  walnuts  appear, 
and  these  are  worthy  of  protection.  In  open  or  thin  places  in 
the  woods,  on  the  drier  bottoms,  this  tree  could  well  be  exten- 
sively introduced  artificially.  In  the  western  and  northern  part 
of  the  Piedmont  plateau  it   will   reach  a  large  size,   but   as  with 


186  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

other  broad  leaf  trees,  it.  mast  be  kept  in   a  thick  stand  until  the 
height-ojrowth  has  been  nearly  completed  to  secnre  clean  stems. 

FORESTS   OF  THE   PIEDMONT   UPLANDS. 

The  upland  forests  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region  are  of  broad- 
leaf  species  and  pine,  or  of  belts  of  broad-leaf  trees  witli  pine 
alternating  with  belts  of  broad-leaf  trees  without  pine,  tliere 
being  no  areas  in  the  original  forest,  if  some  shallow  granitic  soils 
be  possible  exceptions,  which  produce  a  pure  growth  of  either  a 
broad-leaf  or  coniferous  tree. 

The  se(|uence  of  belts,  with  and  without  pine,  continues 
unchanged  in  this  State  to  tiie  northwestward  as  far  as  the  east- 
ern boundary  of  the  mountain  region  in  Siirry,  AVilkes,  Caldwell, 
and  Burke  counties;  and  to  the  southwest,  crossing  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  with  the  difference  between  the  pine  and  no-pine  belts 
more  accentuated  from  the  effect  of  elevation,  occurs  to  northern 
Georgia  and  eastern  Tennessee. 

This  succession  of  forest  belts,  or  the  ]iresence  or  absence  ot" 
pine  in  the  woods,  depends  on  the  variations  in  the  character  of 
the  soil,  as  to  texture,  as  well  as  in  mineral  constituents,  and 
drainage.  The  belts  of  soil,  following  or  coinciding  with  the 
geological  terraines,  lie,  in  general,  northeast  and  southwest 
courses,  thougli  the  interposition  of  dykes,  particularly  granite 
dykes,  to  the  eastward,  has  produced  more  limited  belts  lying  at 
various  angles  to  these  ;  and  not  infrequently  this  occurs  when  the 
order  of  the  rock  strata  iias  beeii  interrupted  by  the  mere  change 
.in  the  direction  of  the  outcrop.  While  in  the  original  forest  the 
areas  of  dissimilar  growth  are  coGxtensive  with  certain  classes  of 
soils,  and  thesanit-  is  more  or  less  true  of  the  aftergrowth  in  culled 
and  coppiced  woodland,  in  the  great  body  of  second  growth  seed- 
ling woods  the  effects  of  these  differences  in  soil  are  largely 
obscured  or  altogether  lost. 

The  most  radical  change  which  is  taking  place  in  the  great  body 
of  the  woodland  is  the  change  of  growth  from  pine  and  mixed 
hardwoods  to  pure  pine,  by  abandoned  fields  being  seeded  in  pine» 
the  place  of  these  fields  being  supplied  for  agricultural  purposes 
by  farther  encroachment  on   the  hardwood  areas.     B^tt  where  the 


SOILS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    UPLANDS.  187 

relative  proportion  of  the  pure  pine  growth  is  already  large,  it  is 
more  desirable  to  reclear  these  old  fields,  on  account  of  the  ease  with 
which  these  pine  lands  are  made  tillable,  from  the  great  absence 
of  lateral  roots  in  the  pine  growth  and  the  quickness  with  which 
the  stumps  and  roots  decay  in  the  sap  trees,  if  cut  in  the  spring 
when  the  beetles  attack  them,  and  the  presence  of  the  sap  invites 
fungus  diseases. 

The  body  of  the  upland  forest  is  composed  of  oaks  with  more  or 
less  hickory,  and  in  places  with  short-leaf  pine  scattered  among 
them.  Other  trees  of  industrial  importance  enter  but  slightly 
into  their  composition.  This  is  the  composition  of  the  original 
forests  as  they  now  stand.  The  second  growth,  on  the  other  Hand, 
which  in  local  cases  is  an  exceedingly  important  element  in  the 
woodland,  has  pine  for  tlio  forest  bod}^  generally,  and  hardwoods 
as  subordinate. 

SOILS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT     UPLANDS. 

The  soils  of  these  counties,  unlike  those  of  the  coastal  plain 
region,  are  very  largely  primary  ;  or  at  least  are  not  secondary  in 
the  sense  of  the  transported  drifts  of  the  sands  and  loams  of  the 
uplands  and  the  alluvial  deposits  of  the  lowlands  of  the  east,  but 
are  derived  from  the  decay  of  rock  or  rock-forming  material  in 
situ.  This  material  generally  forms  the  subsoil,  which  is  covered 
superficially,  to  a  depth  of  three  to  eighteen  inches,  by  a  top-soil, 
diflerentinted  by  natural  elutriation  of  the  finer,  more  adhesive  or' 
clayey  parts,  so  as  to  be  coarser  in  texture  and  not  so  stiff  or 
brightly  colored  as  the  subsoil.  This  top-soil,  unless  its  depth  i& 
ten  inches  or  over,  has  very  little  influence  on  the  kind  of  tree 
growth. 

GENERAL    CONDITION    OF    THE    FOREST. 

The  woodland  presents  a  general  view  of  wide  stretches  of  for- 
est of  broad-leaf  trees,  usually  with  irregular  and  broken  cover,  in 
places  much  culled,  and  w^ith  no  undergrowth  where  pastured, 
and  young  pines  or  cedar  appearing  at  intervals  through  them. 
This  broad-leaf  woodland  alternates  with  small  groves  of  pine, 
usually  rather  open   or   thitily  stocked,  the   pine   being  the  short- 


188  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

leaf  aiul  scrub  pine  ;  or  sometimes  red  cedar  replaces  it,  or  there 
are  mixtures  of  these  trees.  The  groves  of  pine  or  cedar  are  a 
youRoi;  growth  which  has  spontaneously  appeared  in  abandoned 
fields.  In  the  neighborhood  of  the  towns  the  groves  of  pine  are 
of  greater  extent,  and  the  younger  groves  which  are  appearing 
are  more  compact,  the  older  trees  furnishing  abundant  seed  ;  the 
broad-leaf  wood  is  more  restricted  in  extent  and  often  largely 
formed  of  coppice  shoots,  among  which  many  seedling  pines 
appear  when  old  pines  are  within  seeding  distance. 

The  original  forest  lands  may  be  separated  into  three  parallel 
belts,  neglecting  for  the  present  the  numerous  local  variations  : 
(1)  a  more  eastern  with  soils  from  slates,  sandstone  and  gneiss 
and  forests  with  a  large  proportion  of  pine,  the  eastern  pine  helt 
of  the  Piedmont platea'u  ;  (2)  a  middle  belt  with  deep  loamy  soils 
mostly  froni  granitic  rocks  and  supporting  hardwood  forests  of 
the  first  quality,  with  only  small  percentage  of  pine  or  none,  the 
hroad  leaf  forest  helt  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  :  and  (3)  the  exten- 
sive areas  of  gneissic  soils  to  the  westward  with  smaller-sized 
hardwoods  and  more  pine,  the  western  pinehelt  of  the  Piedmont 
plateau. 

THE   EASTERN    PINE  BELT   OF    THE   PIEDMONT   PLATEAU. 

The  forest  belt  lying  to  the  eastward  with  the  woods  composed 
of  broad-leaf  trees  and  pine  can  be  separated  into  three  divisions 
which  difter  essentially  in  the  proportion  of  pine  in  their  compo- 
sition and  the  ability  of  the  soil  to  sustain  a  hardwood  growth 
of  broad-leaf  trees.      There  is  : 

(n  A  more  easterly  division  in  extent  nearly  coinciding  with 
the  geological  ten-aine  of  gneisses  and  granites,  the  forests  of 
which  are  formed  of  both  tlie  loblolly  and  short-leaf  pines 
with  medium-sized  broad-leaf  trees.  This  is  described  under  the 
name  of  \\\q.  forests  of  the  eastern  granite  areas. 

(2)  A  division  abutting  the  above  on  the  west,  and  nearly 
including  the  Jura  triassic  red  sandstone  formation  of  the  geolo- 
gists, the  original  forests  of  which  contain  a  large  proportion  of 
short-leaf  pine,  with  small-sized  broad-leaf  trees,  and  a  large  extent 


FOKESTS    OF    THE     EASTERN     GKANITE     AREAS.  189" 

of  young  pine,  botli  the  short-leaf  and  loblolly,  in  pure  growth, 
forests  of  the  eastern  red  sandstone. 

(3)  A  southeastern  division  with  soils  from  slates,  for  tlie  most 
part  rather  sliallow,  supporting  forests  of  short-leaf  pine  and 
small  broad-leaf  trees,  witli  only  a  small  area  of  young  pine  in 
pure  growth.  Tliis  will  be  called  the  forests  of  the  slates.  This 
does  not  include  the  entire  eastern  slate  area,  but  chiefly  that  in 
the  more  southeastern  counties'"  of  that  belt,  the  general  limits 
of  which  will  be  given  in  describing  this  head. 

Such  differentiation,  it  must  be  understood,  is  merely  for  the 
simplicification  of  description  ;  further  division  might  well  be 
made,  but  these  show  fairly  well,  being  natural  divisions,  the 
most  evident  differences  existing  in  the  forests  and  the  intimate 
relation  existing  between  them  and  the  soils. 

THE     FORESTS    OF    THE    EASTERN    GRANITE     AREAS. 

The  northeastern  counties  of  the  Piedmont  plateau  region, 
Franklin,  Warren,  Yance,  and  the  northern  and  central  parts  of 
AVake,  with  rolling  surlace,  have  generally  grayish  and  loose  top- 
soils,  frequently  gravelly,  especially  along  ridges,  from  the  detritus 
from  numerous  quartz  veins,  and  red  or  reddish  subsoils,  deep, 
fresh  or  moist  along  hillsides,  but  often  coarse-grained  and  porous. 

The  boly  of  the  forests  is  formed  of  post  oak,  black  oak,  white 
oak  and  Spanish  oak,  with  a  considerable  intermixture  of  wiiite, 
small-nut  and  pignut  hickories,  and,  in  most  places,  short-leaf 
pine.  The  larger  forest  pines  have,  however,  been  largely 
removed.  Along  the  hollows  and  cooler  slopes,  mixed  with  the 
white  and  black  oaks,  are  the  northern  red  oak  and  yellow  poplar, 
yielding  a  low  grade  of  lumber,  red  maple  and  some  ash;  along 
the  drier  crests  there  is  more  post  oak  and  often  an  increasing 
proportion  of  black-jack  oak. 

The  woods  around  many  of  the  towns,  periodically  cut  over  or 
heavily  culled  for  fuel,  are  rapidly  deteriorating  into  mere  post 
oak  and  black-jack  oak  coppice,  with,  if  fires  are  excluded  and 
there  are  seed-bearing  pines  near  by,  an  ever-increasing  propor- 
tion of  the  short-leaf  pine. 

*  Largely  the  Monroe  slates.    See  Bull.  3,  N.  V.  Geological  Survey,  1«)H,  p.  3(). 


190  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

While  the  greater  portion  of  the  original  growth  of  short-leaf 
pine  has  been  removed,  there  are  now  large  areas  of  wood,  either 
in  a  pure  stand  of  short-leaf  pine,  or  that  species  mixed  with 
the  loblolly  pine,  especially  on  the  lower  or  moister  lands  ;  and 
these  areas  contain  a  considerable  amount  of  merchantable  tim- 
ber, though  usually  of  a  small  size  and  yielding  only  sap  lumber. 
The  re-growth  pine  is  usually  at  its  best  when  growing  on  hill- 
sides in  culled  woods  with  white  and  black  oaks,  where  rapid 
development  is  secured,  and  tall  and  straight  stocks  formed.  That 
which  has  colonized  old  fields  and  there  formed  a  pure  growth  is 
straight-stemmed  if  the  stand  is  sufficiently  thick  ;  but  the  fields, 
first  taken  in  thick  sod  of  tall  grasses,  are  usually  burnt  many 
times  while  the  trees  are  yet  small,  and  the  growth,  being  thus 
kept  thin,  continues  as  it  matures  open  and  scrubby,  wliile  the 
trees  have  short  boles.  Below  the  pine,  post  oak  and  small  hick- 
ories (especially  white  hickory)  appear,  and  where  the  soil  is  at 
all  moist  or  stiff"  the  dogwood  spreads. 

The  loblolly  pine  when  in  this  re-growth,  here  and  as  far  west- 
ward as  its  distribution  extends,  does  not  do  well  after  passing 
into  the  pole-stage,  if  it  is  growing  on  dry,  sandy  or  gravelly 
uplands ;  either  it  spreads  out,  and  becomes  short-stocked  and 
limby,  if  an  abundance  of  light  is  afforded,  or,  if  that  be  denied, 
soon  dies  out. 

Although  the  woods  of  these  eastern  granite  areas  have  long- 
been  culled,  they  are  still  yielding  much  merchantable  building- 
material,  besides  fencing-timber,  railway  ties  (chiefly  from  the 
post  oak  and  white  oak)  and  large  amounts  of  fuel,  both  of  pine 
and  hardwoods. 

A  considerable  (juantity  of  yellow  poplar  and  some  ash  is 
exported  from  these  areas  for  the  manufacture  of  pulp,  while  one 
local  paper  mill  employs  ash  for  this  use. 

There  are  several  small  mills  sawing  the  second  growth  short- 
leaf  pine,  and  a  few  sawing  the  original  growth. 

TREATMENT   REQUIRED  BY  THE   FORESTS  OF  THE  EASTERN  GRANITE  AREAS. 

These  forests  are  in  most  places  capable  of  producing  oak  tim- 
ber of  considerable  size,  except  along  the  summits  of  the    hills. 


FORESTS  OF  THE  EASTERN  RED  SANDSTONE  BELT.       191 

where  the  dry  and  coarse  ^ravelly  soils  are  more  suited  for  pine 
than  the  lar^-er  and  more  exacting  broad-leaf  trees.  Cattle  have 
for  a  number  of  years  been  excluded  from  the  greatest  portion  of 
the  woodland  in  a  considerable  part  of  this  area,  and  the  beneficial 
effects  of  this  is  evident  in  the  thicker  undergrowth.  The  black 
oaks,  particularly  the  black-jack  and  the  Spanish,  are  generally 
increasing  more  rapidly  than  the  white  oak,  and  do  not  seem  to 
be  dying  out  so  rapidly  as  in  counties  fartiier  west. 

The  very  large  areas  of  loblolly  pine  growth  in  old  fields  should 
be  favored  when  it  is  on  moist  soils  or  loose  loams  :  but  on  all 
stiffer  or  drier  soils  that  of  the  short-leaf  pine  should  be  favored. 
Thinnings  might  advantageously  be  carried  out  for  each  of  these 
species,  as  will  be  described  further  on. 

Along  all  gravelly  ridges  mature  seed-bearing  pines  should  be 
preserved  as  seed-trees,  and  the  proportion  of  pine  in  the  small  oak 
growth  on  the  crests  increased  ;  on  the  more  fertile  soils  of  the 
slopes  and  along  the  borders  of  the  hollows  the  pines  reach  their 
largest  size,  but  the  competition  there  with  the  broad-leaf  trees  is 
such  that  it  is  only  occasionally  that  a  pine  can  succcecl  in  reach- 
ing maturity  if  it  spring  up  among  the  broad-leaf  trees. 

FORESTS    OF    THE     EASTERN     RED    SANDSTONE    BELT. 

Contiguous  on  the  southwest  to  the  granite  areas  in  Granville 
and  AVake  counties  just  described,  and  extending  southward 
through  Durham,  the  eastern  parts  of  Chatham,  Montgomery  and 
Anson  counties,  are  the  sandy  loams  yielded  bj'  the  Jura-trias  red 
and  brown  sandstones.  This  belt  or  terrain  varies  from  S  to  16 
miles  in  width,  and  though  its  surface  is  generally  undulating  it 
is  broken  and  rugged  only  in  the  few  places  where  sandstone 
ridges  occur,  as  in  portions  of  Chatham,  Moore,  and  the  southern 
part  Anson  counties. 

The  soils  vary  from  loose  coarse-grained  sandy  loa?ns  to  stiff 
fine-textured  loams,  the  latter  being  generally  confined  to  river 
bottoms.  They  are  usuall}'  brown  or  gray  in  color,  with  charac- 
teristic brown,  purplish,  or  terra-cotta-colored,  stiffer  subsoils  • 
usually  deep,  but  in  spite  of  their  de])th  ill-suited  for  tree  growth. 


192  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Under  denudation  tliej   wash   badly,  and   all    the  iiner  and  more 
silty  soils  bake  in  drying;. 

On  the  llatter  lands  the  forests  are  formed  of  small-sized  trees. 
In  the  original  ijrowth  there  is  nsually  an  upper  dominant  story 
of  short-leaf  pine  from  50  to  70  feet  in  height,  with  an  underwood 
of  post  oak,  Spanish  oak,  black-jacdv  oak,  white  oak,  and  white 
hickory.  This  often  merg-es  into  ])ost  oak  and  bhickjack  oak 
flats;  or  where  the  soil  is  stifl'er  and  the  country  more  rugged 
better  naks  are  to  be  found  along  the  slopes  and  in  the  hollows. 
The  original  growth  has  been  largely  removed.      (Plate  XXII.) 

In  the  southern  portion  of  Granville,  the  southwestern  part  of 
Wake,  and  Durham,  and  the  eastern  part  of  Chatham  counties 
are  large  areas  of  abandoned  agricultural  lands  under  cover  of  the 
short  leaf  and  loblolly  pines.  The  pine  may  be  seen  in  all  stages 
of  development,  though  in  one  grove  ail  trees  are  about  the  same 
size.  The  loblolly  is  for  the  most  part  conlined  to  the  lower  or 
flatter  lands,  the  short  leaf  to  the  better-drained  soils  and  those 
situated  at  a  distance  from  large  streams  wliere  there  are  the  seed- 
bearing  trees  of  the  loblolly  pine.  In  many  places  the  two  pines 
occur  mixed  ;  but  the  loblolly  generally  displaces  the  short-leaf, 
crowing  more  rapidly  and  enduring  greater  lateral  compression 
and  shade,  than  the  latter.  On  the  driest  soils,  however,  tb  - 
short  leaf  finally  outgrows  the  loblolly  and  prevails.  Much  of 
this  pine  is  of  good  stand  and  has  tall  and  straight  bodies  free 
from  limbs,  and  this  is  more  true  of  the  loblolly  pine  groves  than 
of  those  of  the  short-leaf;  but  much  more  of  it  has  been  thinned 
by  repeated  fires,  and  is  capable  of  yielding  but  little  wood  except 
for  fuel.  The  floor  is  generally  covered  with  a  thick  sod  of 
broom-grass.  Only  a  few  broad-leaf  trees  appear  spontaneously 
beneath  these  pines;  those  which  do  occur  are  chiefly  post  oak, 
white  hickory  and  dogwood. 

In  Anson  county  there  remains  but  little  of  the  original  forest. 
North  of  AVadesboro  the  soil  is  a  gray,  sandy  loam,  rolling  and 
iiioist,  covered  wnth  a  generally  compact  growth  of  the  loblolly 
pine,  which  is  of  fairly  uniform  size  ;  high  poles  or  small-sized 
mill-timber,  where  large  tracts  of  cotton  lands  were  simultaneously 
abandoned  in   the  period  between   1861   and  1S68,  and  liave  not 


N.   C.   GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


BULLETIN  6.     PLATE  XXII. 


MIXED    PINE    AND    HARDWOOD    FOREST    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    PLATEAU^REGION 


IMPROVEMENT    OF    THE    FORESTS    OF    THE    SANDSTONE    BELT.         193 

since  been  re-cleared.  Beneath  tliis  loblolly  pine  there  is  very 
little  hardwood  growth.  South  of  Wadesboro  the  topography  is 
more  rugged,  and  the  soils  are  stifter,  and  along  the  crests  and 
upper  slopes  often  shallow.  Everywhere  it  has  been  badly  eroded. 
The  short-leaf  pine  holds  possession  of  the  large  extent  of  old 
fields,  with,  in  some  places,  a  small  proportion  of  loblolly  pine  inter- 
mixed. The  growth  is  open  and  stunted  and  in  many  localities 
dying  out.  There  is  little  underwood  and  a  consequently  poor 
floor.  To  the  eastward  along  the  Pee  Dee  river,  lie  the  light 
loams  of  the  long-leaf  pine  belt,  on  which  at  the  present  time  in 
Anson  county,  there  are  not  over  3,000  acres  of  good  standino- 
pine.  Tlie  remainder  of  the  long-leaf  pine  lands  in  this  county, 
as  has  been  said,  are  covered,  where  the  soils  are  dry,  with  small 
broad-leaf  trees,  chiefly  post  oak  and  black-jack  oak  ;  or  where 
the  soils  are  moist  with  an  open,  spreading  growth  of  the  loblolly 
pine. 

The  greater  part  of  the  woodland  of  these  counties,  possibly  as 
much  as  two-thirds  of  it,  is  in  young  groves  of  pure  pine.  The 
so-called  "forest"  pine  has  been  nearly  removed;  some  is  yet 
held  in  a  few  places.  There  are  considerable  areas  of  small-sized 
short-leaf  and  loblolly  pine  timber  suitable  for  milling  purposes, 
making  sap  lumber.  Only  a  little  of  it  has  been  cut,  that  chiefly 
for  making  tobacco  tierces.  From  the  broad-leaf  trees  (the  white 
and  post  oaks  mainly)  hoops  and  st'aves  and  railway  ties  are  made. 
Some  dogwood  is  gotten  out  for  shuttle-blocks.  There  are  few 
wood-working  industries,  and  these  are  chiefly  saw  mills,  sup- 
plying in  part  the  local  demand. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  FORESTS  OF  THE  SANDSTONE   BELT. 

The  moister  soils  are  capable  of  producing  loblolly  pine  suitable 
for  saw-logs,  and  medium-sized  white  and  Spanish  oaks.  The 
drier  soils  can  grow  rather  small-sized  trees  of  the  short-leaf  pine, 
post  oak  and  small-sized  white  oak. 

Protection  from  fires  is  needed  ;  browsing  cattle  do  only  slight 
damage,  except  where  there  is  a  very  large  proportion  of  broad- 
leaf  trees.      All  young    short-leaf   pine    appearing    in    lumbered 
woods  should  be  protected. 
13 


19-1  FORESTS    OF    NOETH    CAROLINA. 

The  thick  groves,  particularly  those  of  the  loblolly  pine, 
might  well  be  thinned.  Very  lightly  at  first,  if  the  stand  is  very 
thick,  and  the  thinning  repeated  after  several  years.  If  the 
stand  is  not  so  thick  a  correspondingly  light  catting  will  be 
required.  Seeding  pines  should  be  left  around  every  cultivated 
field  which  in  time  may  be  abandoned,  so  that  when  cultivation 
ceases  it  may  quickly  be  seeded  in  self-sown  pine  seed,  and  the 
young  pines  serve  as  a  protection  to  prevent  the  washing  away 
of  the  soil  as  so  much  of  it  is  now  destroyed. 

The  loblolly  pine  can  be  grown  in  a  pure  forest  on  all  the 
moister  soils  of  this  division.  The  short-leaf  pine  does  well  in  a 
pure  growth  on  the  better  soils.  On  the  poorer  soils  all  the 
groves  of  untended  trees  now  have  too  open  a  stand.  This  may 
be  due  entirely  to  external  influences;  in  many  places  it  is 
evidently  traceable  to  fires.  If  this  be  due  in  certain  cases  to  the 
natural  thinning  out  of  the  pine  on  such  soils  as  the  trees  become 
of  large  size,  in  all  such  cases  underplanting  will  have  to  be 
resorted  to. 

FORESTS    OF    THE    SLATE    SOILS. 

The  geological  formation  of  crystalline  schists  and  slates,  which 
extends  from  Person  count}^  southwestward  to  Union,  yields  two 
extreme  types  of  soils,  each  supporting  characteristic  growth. 
The  first  of  these  to  be  here  described  is  the  less  suited  for  the 
gi-owth  of  trees,  and  has  woods  of  pine  and  small  broad-leaf  trees  ; 
the  second  produces  woods  of  broad-leaf  trees  of  a  larger  class  and 
no  pine,  and  will  be  described  further  on  in  considering  the  belt 
of  red  and  gray  loams  which  lies  next  to  the  west. 

The  first  soil  referred  to  as  being  a  characteristic  one  over  a 
large  part  of  these  counties  is  a  usually  shallow,  closfe  and  stiff, 
yellow  loam,  sometimes  superficially  sandy,  derived  from  gray  or 
yellow  slates,  and  is  nearly  confined  to  the  southern,  counties : 
Randolph,  Stanly,  Montgomery,  and  Union.  The  topography  of  the 
districts  where  such  soil  is  found  is  simple,  the  surface  nearly  flat 
or  gently  rolling.  Throughout  it  is  ill-drained,  and  the  variation 
in  the  growth  is  incidental  to  the  thoroughness  of  the  drainage. 
Where  better  drained  the  forest  resembles  a  two-storied  high  for- 
est.    The  upper  story  consists  of  a  rather  open   growth    of  short- 


FORESTS    OF    THE    SLATE    SOILS.  195 

leaf  pine  rising  to  a  height  of  50  to  70  feet;  the  lower  story  of 
small  post  and  black-jack  oaks,  with  more  or  less  Spanish  and 
white  oak  and  ^vhite  hickory,  has  an  average  height  of  40  feet, 
individual  trees  acquiring  a  diameter  of  14  to  18  inches.  The 
trees  are  often  shrubby,  and  there  is  very  little  young  growth. 
As  the  soil  becomes  poorly  drained  the  pine  decreases,  until  on 
the  "  willow"  oak  flats  "  the  growth  becomes  restricted  to  black- 
jack and  post  oaks  as  a  lower  story,  slightly  overtopped  by  willow 
oaks,  a  growth  capable  of  yielding  only  a  limited  number  of  ties, 
and  felloe  and  hub-material. 

In  Davidson,  Stanly  and  Union  counties  mines  have  been  worked 
for  many  years,  requiring  large  amounts  of  fuel  and  posts  which 
have  been  gotten  from  the  neighborhood.  Such  deforested  dis- 
tricts are  now  generally  covered  with  a  coppice  of  good  stand, 
often  with  many  young  pines  and  some  seedling  oaks  intermixed. 
Along  many  of  the  river  hills  through  here  thickets  of  the  scrub 
pine  may  be  seen.  It  appears  to  be  spreading  eastward  from  the 
granite  knobs  above  along  the  rivers,  occasional  trees  yet  being 
seen  in  bulled  or  coppiced  woodland  as  far  to  the  eastward  as 
Orange  county.  • 

There  is  a  comparatively  large  part  of  the  area  of  these  coun- 
ties in  forest  and  only  a  small  amount  of  second  growth  woods  ; 
and  as  the  woods  have  been  but  little  culled  a  correspondingly 
large  amount  of  merchantable  timber,  pine  in  places  and  oak  suit- 
able for  ties  and  wagon-material.  These  forests  liave  in  many 
places  been  badly  injured  by  frequent  and  destructive  fires,  but 
during  late  years  the  woods  have  been  better  protected  and  the 
adoption  of  laws  requiring  the  confinement  of  live  stock  in  several 
of  the  counties  has  tended  to  diminish  the  evil  and  at  the  same 
time  improve  the  general  condition  of  the  woodland. 

The  soils  of  the  first  division   are  on  the  whole  too  shallow  to 
make  large-sized  broad-leaf  trees.     The  most  valuable  tree  is  the' 
short-leaf  pine ;   next  the  post  and  white  oaks   and  white  hickory 
and  dogwood.     The  pine  will  make    medium-sized  mill-logs;  the 
oak  scarcely  more  than  railway  ties  and  smaller  material. 

Fires  should  be  rigidly  excluded,  as  their  damage  to  young  pine 
is  great.     In  most   places  cattle   should   be   excluded.     Improve- 


196  FOKESTS    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

ment  cuttings  conld  be  advantageously  conducted  throughout 
nearly  this  entire  section,  defective  pines  being  removed  and  old 
black  oaks  and  Spanish  oaks  that  are  interfering  in  any  way  with 
young  growth  of  more  valuable  species.  The  proportion  of  pine 
can  be  largely  increased  in  such  soils  as  are  sufficiently  deep  to 
permit  its  growth,  the  amount  of  post  oak  increased  on  the  crests 
of  ridges,  and  of  white  oak  on  the  slopes  and  better  soils. 

THE  DECIDUOUS   FORESTS  OF  THE  PIEDMONT   PLATEAU. 

Beginning  in  Mecklenburg  county  and  extending  northeast 
through  Cabarrus,  Rowan,  Davidson,  Guilford,  and  Caswell  coun- 
ties and  west  to  the  middle  parts  of  Davie,  Yadkin,  and  Rock- 
ingham counties  are  red  and  gray  compact  loams,  sometimes 
loose,  rarely  sandy,  derived  largely  from  gneissic  or  granitic 
rocks  ;  and  with  these  may  be  included  the  loose  loams  of  Orange, 
Granville,  and  Alamance  counties,  and  the  stiff  red  loams  of 
central  Iredell,  middle  part  of  Lincoln  and  Catawba  counties,  and 
the  loose  and  sandy  red  and  gray  loams  of  southern  Cleveland 
and  Rutherford  counties.  This  territory  embraces  the  great  body 
of  the  fertile  upland  soils,  both  stiff  and  loose,  of  the  Piedmont 
plateau. 

The  forests  were  originally  of  the  first  quality,  consisting  of 
compact-growing  hardwoods,  oaks,  and  hickories,  with  pine  dis- 
seminated only  on  rocky  or  sandy  soils  along  the  crests  of  hills. 
They  difler  from  those  lying  to  the  eastward  in  the  almost  total 
absence  of  the  short-leaf  pine  in  the  original  forest,  the  rather 
limited  area  of  young  pine  in  pure  growth,  and  the  presence  in 
many  sections  of  the  red  cedar  and  scrub  pine  as  the  old  field 
growth. 

FORESTS  OF  THE  COMPACT  RED  LOAMS  OR  "  RED  CLAYS." 

The  Stiff  red  soils,  the  so-called  "red  clays,"  derived  from 
hornblende-bearing  rocks  are  fertile,  and  are  usually  free  from 
stones.  The  soils  are  in  narrow  terraines,  two  to  twelve  miles 
wide,  lying  in  a  northeast  and  southwest  direction,  the  largest 
extending   from   Charlotte   to   Concord,  with    a    length   of  about 


FORESTS  OF  THE  RED  CLAYS.  19T 

thirty-five  miles.  Otlier  extensive  bodies  are  at  Salisbury  and 
Lexington  ;  several  smaller  are  in  Guilford  county,  and  a  large 
body  extends  through  central  Alamance  and  Orange  counties, 
and  the  northwest  part  of  Person  county.  Besides  these  bodies 
are  the  areas  in  Catawba,  Lincoln,  and  Iredell  counties  already 
referred  to,  and  smaller  areas  in  other  portions  of  these  counties. 

The  forests  of  the  compact  red  loams  are  composed  of  black  and 
white  oaks,  white  and  small-nut  hickories  with  small  intermixture 
of  Spanish  oak,  and  along  the  crests  of  the  ridges,  of  post  oak; 
but  on  lower  hillsides  and  steep  north  slopes  the  yellow  poplar, 
northern  red  oak,  shagbark  hickory,  and  white  ash  also  occur. 
These  trees  in  the  most  favored  situation  form  a  forest  whose 
canopy  is  raised  90  to  100  feet,  and  the  trunks  which  support  it 
are  free  from  limbs  for  4(»  to  60  feet.  Beneath  these  trees  where 
there  has  been  no  pasturage  there  is  in  many  places  a  heavy 
undergrowth  of  dogwood  and  young  trees.  The  wooded  land  is 
for  the  most  part  distributed  among  small  farms,  and  much  of  it 
has  been  heavily  culled  of  the  white  oak  for  building  and  fencing- 
material,  and  in  places  the  Spanish  oak  has  been  removed  for  the 
same  uses.  Where  such  culling  has  been  done  and  the  woodland 
pastured  at  the  same  time,  the  growth  has  remained  open  and 
there  is  no  underwood  :  and  although  in  many  such  tracts  no  pas- 
turage has  been  permitted  for  the  past  five  or  ten  years,  the 
reproductive  power  of  the  black  oaks  seems  to  be  so  impaired, 
possibly  from  the  dry  and  impoverished  floor,  that  seedlings  are 
infrequent  and  small,  and  few  young  black  oaks  are  to  be  found  in 
the  undergrowth  now  appearing,  which  consists  of  dogwood, 
hickories,  haws,  and  young  white  oaks.  There  are  still  many 
fine  bodies  of  hickory,  although  much  has  been  cut  from  these 
lands  for  numerous  local  buggy  and  spoke  factories,  and  much 
has  been  exported  in  the  log. 

Old  fields  on  the  compact  red  loams  are  not  frequent  and  they 
are  either  tardily  taken  by  pine,  the  seed  being  borne  there  from 
trees  at  a  distance  on  other  soils,  or  sometimes  they  are  taken  by 
thickets  of  sassafras,  sumach  or  by  persimmon,  and  in  a  few  local- 
ities   by  red   cedar.      Sometimes,   however,    a    growth    of  mixed 


198  FORESTS    OF    NOKTH    CAKOLINA. 

broad-leaf  trees,  whose  seedlings  are  light-bearing,  appear,  Span- 
ish, post,  and  white  oaks,  white  hickorj',  dogwood,  and  sonrwood. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE   FORESTS. 

These  forests  are  capable  of  yielding  large-sized  oak  and  hick- 
ory timber.  The  white  and  black  oaks  are  the  most  valual)le 
trees  growing  on  these  soils,  and  are  better  adapted  to  them  than 
the  others ;  the  Spanish  oak  is  less  suited.  Of  the  hickories  the 
smallnat  and  the  white  make  the  most  rapid  growth  and  thrive 
better  on  this  stiffer  soil  ;  the  small-nnt  on  the  shadier  slopes  or 
where  the  stiffest  soils  prevail  ;  the  white  where  the  soils  are  drier 
or  not  so  stiff.  The  short-leaf  pine  will  attain  a  large  size  and 
make  exceedingly  rapid  growth,  either  in  growth  with  other  trees 
or  when  growing  alone. 

Browsing  cattle  and  hogs  should  be  excluded,  and  tires,  which 
at  present  are  of  seldom  occurrence,  should  be  guarded  against. 
AVhere  the  woodshave  not  been  pastured  there  is  usually  a  heavy 
stand  of  young  trees  beneath  the  old  ones,  and  generally  of  the 
same  kind,  although  not  by  any  means  in  the  same  proportion. 
There  are  great  numbers  of  white  oaks,  especially  four-year-old 
seedlings,  and  thickets  of  saplings,  from  the  two  latest  heavy  masts, 
around  and  beneath  seed-bearing  trees  ;  and  this  young  growth 
is  most  promising.  Defective  old  trees,  or  objectionable  species, 
black  gums,  scarlet  oak  and  other  trees  of  less  value  which  by 
their  shade  are  interfering  with  such  young  growth  should  be 
removed,  and  if  it  will  pay  to  turn  them  into  cord-wood  they 
should  be  cut  np  and  hauled  out,  as  little  cutting  and  injury  Ijeing 
inflicted  on  the  young  growth  as  is  possible. 

There  is  in  some  places  much  mature  timber:  when  it  is  post 
oak,  chiefly  suitable  for  railway  ties;  when  white  and  black  oaks, 
it  will  yield  small-sized  milling  timber,  and  this  is  often  standing 
to  the  great  detriment  of  the  thick  young  growth  beneath  it,  and 
might  well  be  partly  removed  to  give  the  young  growth  an  oppor- 
tunity for  development. 

Where  pasturage  has  been  uninterruptedly  practiced  for  many 
years  and  the  woods  are  open  beneath,  there  being  no  underwood 
of  young   trees,  an    absolute  exclusion    of  cattle  is   demanded  in 


IMPROVEMENT    OF    THE    FORESTS.  199 

order  to  secure  the  regeneration  of  a  new  crop  beneath  the  old 
trees.  Where  lack  of  grazing  lands  makes  woodland  pasturage 
necessary,  the  plan  of  utilizing  one-half  of  the  woodland  for  grazing 
until  the  young  growth  in  the  other  portion  becomes  too  large  to 
be  injured  by  cattle,  and  then  turning  the  cattle  into  that,  while 
the  pastured  area  is  permitted  to  rest  and  secure  a  new  growth, 
could  be  adopted.  Where  there  are  yet  many  black  oaks,  white 
oaks  and  hickories  standing,  they  can  be  allowed  to  naturally  seed 
the  ground,  and  the  seedlings  from  them  form  the  new  wood. 

In  places,  however,  these  species  are  nearly  wanting,  or  the 
white  oak  has  been  largely  removed,  so  that  if  a  new  crop  were  to 
be  naturally  regenerated  beneath  the  remaining  trees  it  would  be 
formed  largely  of  little-desired  species.  Underplanting  with  the 
white  oak,  and  retaining  the  old  cover  for  several  years,  and  then 
removing  it  after  the  young  white  oaks  have  formed  thickets  so 
as  to  shade  the  ground,  is  here  recommended.  The  most  naked 
spaces,  without  any  cover  at  all,  might  well  be  sown  in  the  short- 
leaf  pine. 

Some  localities  show  absolutely  no  signs  of  young  growth  of 
broad-leaf  trees  except  sucli  kinds  as  are  neglected  by  browsing 
cattle;  the  old  trees  which  are  standing  have  passed  their  matur- 
ity, their  tops  are  decaying,  the  trunks  are  often  hollow,  and  their 
vigor  is  constantly  lessening  from  the  free  access  of  the  sun  to  the 
soil  around  their  roots.  Any  kind  of  a  young  growth  in  such  sit- 
uations will  be  valuable  in  protecting  the  soil  from  washing  and 
preventing  the  further  decay  of  the  old  trees  by  shading  their 
roots.  Nearly  all  of  this  thinned  wood  has  more  or  less  young 
short-leaf  pine  in  it  which  is  rapidly  increasing,  being  passed  over 
bj'  cattle. 

THE    FORESTS    OF    THE    LOOSE    GRAY    LOAMS. 

The  forests  of  this  division  cover  the  greater  portion  of  the  sec- 
tion of  the  Piedmont  plateau  which  lies  between  Rutherford  and 
the  southeastern  part  of  Mecklenburg,  on  the  south  and  west, 
and  Yadkin,  Rowan,  Caswell  and  Orange  counties  on  the  north 
and  east;  within  this  division  lie  the  smaller  areas  of  compact  red 
loams  with  their  somewhat  different  growth.      There  is  not  always 


200  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

a  sharply  defined  limit  between  the  loose  gray  loams  and  the  com- 
pact red  loams,  one  gradually  passing  into  the  other;  more  often 
the  areas  of  compact  red  loams  have  sharply  defined  limits.  The 
more  sandy  soils  prevail,  however,  in  Alamance,  Orange,  the  west- 
ern portion  of  Chatham  and  in  Person  counties,  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Mecklenburg,  and  the  southern  parts  of  Cleveland  and 
Rutherford  counties. 

The  gray  loams  are  loose,  even  sandy  in  places,  with  the  subsoils 
stilFer  and  bright-colored,  deep,  well  drained,  but  fresh  or  moist 
and  welhsuited  for  tree  growth.  In  a  few  places  they  are  rocky 
or  even  bouldery  as  in  portions  of  Orange  and  Alamance  counties. 

In  general,  the  forests  are  quite  similar  to  those  of  the  compact 
red  loams  ;  but  the  Spanish  oak  to  a  large  extent  replaces  the  black 
oak  ;  there  is  more  post  oak,  and  the  standard  of  excellence  is  not 
so  high. 

The  composition  of  the  original  forest  may  be  said  to  be  of  white 
oak,  Spanish  oak,  post  oak,  black  oak,  white  hickory,  and  scarlet 
oak,  in  relative  abundance  about  in  the  order  named,  and  forming 
over  three-fourths  of  the  growth  ;  beneath  these  trees  is  a  selection 
of  underwood,  where  it  has  not  been  suppressed  by  pasturage,  which 
shows  a  fair  representation  of  the  dominant  trees,  and  with  these 
the  dogwood,  suurwood,  haws,  and  thorns.  Dogwood,  however,  is 
not  so  abundant  as  on  the  compact  red  loams.  On  slopes  facing 
the  north  and  cool  hillsides  there  is  but  little  ash  and  red  maple, 
and  only  occasional  trees  of  the  northern  red  oak,  but  yellow  pop- 
lar is  more  frequent. 

Vine,  though  infrequent  on  the  stifier  soils  and  confined  to  the 
ridges,  forms  on  the  looser  a  not  inconsiderable  element  in  the 
woodland,  from  J  to  2  per  cent,  of  the  mature  trees  often  being 
pine,  these  being  large  and  tall,  but  scarcely  overtopping  the  hard- 
woods. 

AVhere  the  soil  is  poor  and  sandy  as  in  southern  Mecklenburg, 
there  is  a  reoccurrence  of  the  pine,  post  oak,  and  blackjack  oak 
growth,  with  the  pine  as  an  upper  story  and  the  broad-leaf  trees 
as  a  lower.  The  area  of  such  sandy  land,  however,  is  limited,  and 
it  is  generally  largely  cleared  for  cotton  culture,  with  the  greater 
part  of  the  woodland  hardwood  coppice  and  pine  regrowth. 


FORESTS    OF    THE    LOOSE    GRAY    LOAMS.  201 

To  the  eastward  in  Person,  Orange  and  Alamance  counties  the 
small  shagbark  hickory  is  frequent  along  the  crests  of  sandy  ridges, 
forming  in  a  few  places  as  much  as  10  per  cent,  of  thegrow^th  over 
limited  areas. 

Where  high  hills  occur  with  sandy  or  gravelly  crests,  and  espe- 
cially if  boiildery,  as  the  river-hills  along  the  Deep  and  Haw,  and 
the  elevated  ridges  in  Person  county  which  centre  around  Fuller 
mountain,  the  chestnut  oak  becomes  conspicuous,  and  in  culled  and 
coppiced  woodland  rapidly  propagates,  seeding  at  an  early  age, 
and  abundantly  reproducing  from  stool  shoots.  * 

Coppiced  and  culled  woods  deteriorate  in  two  directions  accor- 
ding to -the  kind  of  soil  on  which  they  grow  ;  if  on  sandy  soils  the 
early  seeding  black-jack  oak  and  post  oak  increase,  their  seedlings, 
appearing  among  the  stool  shoots,  the  trees  of  these  species  becom- 
ing large  enough  to  prodnce  seed  before  those  other  kinds;  on  the 
stitfer  red  soils  where  the  black-jack  oak  is  w^anting,  the  sourwood 
increases  rapidly  for  the  same  reason,  it  seeding  at  a  very  early 
age,  especially  from  shoots. 

On  the  hillsides  in  culled  woods  many  maple  seedlings  occur, 
and  reach  a  height  of  20  or  30  feet,  and  then  die.  The  black  gum 
does  the  same,  small  trees  of  this  species  often  forming  a  consider- 
erable  proportion  of  the  young  growth  ;  but  although  it  reaches  a 
much  larger  size  than  the  red  maple,  and  persists  for  afar  longer 
time,  it,  too,  is  finally  suppressed  by  more  rapid-groAving  trees 
which  are  better  suited  for  the  dry  soils.  To  a  less  extent  the  same 
is  true  of  the  sweet  gum,  but  unless  in  rather  favored  localities  its 
seedlings,  which  appear  in  many  places  in  the  w^oods,  die  after  a 
few  years  growth. 

Where  the  soils  are  not  too  sandy  or  thin  there  is  a  growth  of 
broad-leaf  trees  nearly  as  excellent  in  quality  as  that  on  the  com- 
pact red  loams.  Its  average  height,  however,  will  scarcely  exceed 
85  feet,  and  as  the  soil  becomes  more  silicious  there  are  fewer 
small-nut  and  shagbark  hickories  and  black  oaks,  these  being- 
supplanted  by  post  and  Spanish  oaks  ;  or,  if  thecountrj-  is  rugged 
and  the  crests  of  the  hills  rocky  and  gravelly,  especially  if  with 
quartz  fragments,  the  scarlet  oaks  and  pignut  hickories  enter 
largely. 


202  FORESTS    OF.   JJORTH    CAROLINA. 

These  forests  require  the  same  raauagement  aud  care  for  their 
improvement,  as  was  indicated  for  those  of  the  compact  red  loams. 

GENERAL    CONDITION    OF    THE    DECIDUOUS    FORESTS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT 
PLATEAU    REGION. 

Between  80,000  and  loO,000  acres  of  oak  and  hickory  woodland 
situated  in  Person,  Caswell,  and  Granville  counties  were  burned  in 
the  spring  of  1893.  The  greater  portion  of  the  mature  and  large- 
sized, oak  and  hickory  timber  was  killed;  and  while  the  tops  of 
all  smaller  trees  were  destroyed,  they  put  forth  abundant  stool 
shoots  so  that  the  burnt  areas  are  now  covered  with  thickets  of 
young  sprouts.  There  is  another  large  burnt  area  in  the  north- 
eastern portion  of  Rockingham  county  over  which  a  lire  passed 
about  187.5.  This  is  now  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  small 
trees  about  twenty  years  old,  there  often  being  several  stocks 
from  the  same  stool  so  that  they  interfere  with  each  other  and 
prevent  development. 

While  at  the  present  time,  on  account  of  the  general  distribu- 
tion of  groves  of  seed-bearing  short  leaf  pine,  this  species  quickly 
forms  a  stand  in  abandoned  fields,  as  is  the  case  from  Rutherford, 
Cleveland,  and  Mecklenburg  counties  north  to  Davie  and  Guil- 
ford, yet  in  many  portions  of  southern  Alamance,  the  northern 
parts  of  Orange,  in  Person,  Caswell,  and  the  eastern  parts  of 
Rockingham  and  Forsyth  counties,  the  short-leaf  pine  does  not 
rapidly  take  old  fields,  from  five  to  ten  years  or  even  more 
being  required  for  a  thick  stand  to  be  naturally  secured. 

In  the  eastern  portion  of  Guilford  county,  and  in  Alamance, 
Orange,  Person,  and  Forsyth  there  is  a  large  proportion  of  red 
cedar  associated  with  the  short-leaf  pine,  in  localities  where  the 
pine  does  occur  in  the  old  field  growth  ;  Init  the  cedar  is  finally 
suppressed  by  overshading.  In  some  localities  cedar  unmixed 
with  other  trees  forms  the  regrowth.  This  tree  is  also  rapidly 
increasing  in  culled  woods,  but,  as  in  the  pine  groves,  it  is  unable 
to  endure  the  deep  shade  of  the  broad-leaf  trees,  being  of  much 
slower  growth  than  they,  and  is  at  last  overshaded.  In  the  coun- 
ties to  the  west  of  Guilford,  and  especially  in  those  to  the  south- 
west, there  is  not  so  much  red  cedar. 


CONDITION    OF    THE    FORESTS    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    PLATEAU.        203 

Where  neither  the  red  cedar  nor  short-leaf  pine  appears  in  the 
old  fields,  as  in  portions  of  Guilford,  in  Caswell,  especially  in  the 
valley  of  Country  Line  creek,  in  Rockingham  and  Forsyth  coun- 
ties, and  to  a  less  extent  elsewhere,  the  scrub  pine  forms  a  large 
portion  of  the  regrowth  in  old  fields,  in  many  places  forming  com- 
pact thickets  of  pure  growth  ;  in  others,  thickets  of  the  short-leaf 
pine  and  scrub  pine  alternate.  The  two  pines  are  sometimes 
associated.  When  this  is  the  case  unless  the  short-leaf  pine  has 
the  advantage  of  a  start  of  a  few  years  growth,  the  scrub  pine, 
being  the  mor'e  rapid  grower,  will  overshade  it  and  suppress  it. 
Less  frequently  is  the  scrub  pine  associated  with  red  cedar  in 
these  groves. 

The  scrub  pine  forms  groves  of  pure  growth  on  the  granite 
knolls  which  extend  across  tlie  eastern  edge  of  Cabarrus  county 
into  Rowan,  and  the  dissemination  in  the  old  fields  has  probably 
been  from  the  trees  on  these  knolls  and  those  growing  along  the' 
hills  of  the  Haw  and  the  Deep  rivers,  as  the  scrub  pine  is  not 
found  at  other  places  in  this  division  in  the  original  forest. 

Probably  as  much  as  one-third  of  the  area  of  this  division  is  in 
wood,  and  over  one-half  of  the  wood  is  regrowth.  A  greater  por- 
tion of  the  regrowth,  over  a  third  at  any  rate,  is  pine  and  cedar. 
There  are  besides  large  areas  of  waste  lands,  with  almost  no  tree 
growth  of  any  kind,  or  exceedingly  thinly  stocked  with  pine  or 
oak,  chiefiy  post  oak,  black-jack  oak,  and  Spanish  oak  stool- 
shoots. 

There  is  almost  no  merchantable  heart-pine  suitable  for  milling. 
The  local  bodies  of  regrowth  pine  which  are  now  large  enough  for 
small  sized  saw-logs  will  yield  only  sap  lumber,  and  are  not  gen- 
erally utilized  on  this  account;  but  there  are  large  quantities  of 
pine  suitable  for  fuel.  There  is  not  very  much  oak,  either  white 
or  red  oak,  which  is  suitable  for  lumber.  What  tliere  is  lies 
chiefly  in  Orange,  Person,  and  Davidson  counties;  but  there  are 
smaller  bodies  in  otlier  places.  Smaller  white  oak  and  post  oak, 
suitable  for  railway  ties,  in  most  places  is  not  abundant,  many 
sections  not  producing  enough  to  supply  the  local  demand.  Hick- 
ory, however,  is  relatively  more  abundant,  not  having  been  so 
largely  culled  for  local  use;    numerous  spoke  and  tool-handle  fac- 


204  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

tories  are  now  utilizing  this.  There  are  few  saw-mills,  and  nearly 
all  of  the  building  material  used  by  the  larger  towns  is  brought 
from  other  sections  of  the  State. 

THE    WESTERN   PINE  BELT  OF  THE    PIEDMONT   PLATEAU. 

Lying  to  the  west  of  the  compact  red  and  gray  loams  are  fine- 
grained and  mostly  sandy  loams,  usually  red  or  reddish  in  color 
with  a  thin  surface  soil,  usually  less  fertile  than  the  compact  red 
and  gray  loams  and  less  suitable  for  tree-growth..  This  division 
extends  from  the  central  part  of  Rockingham,  Iredell,  and  the 
central  part  of  Rutherford  counties  northward  and  westward  to 
the  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  its  outlying  spurs.  A  few  local 
areas  of  compact  red  loams  occur,  and  the  original  timber  on  these 
soils  was  entirely  of  broad-leaf  trees. 

The  surface  of  the  entire  division  sloping  eastward  from  the 
escarpment  of  the  Blue  Ridge  is  broken  and  rugged.  The  culmi- 
nating points  of  the  divides  between  the  rivers  which  here  find 
their  head  waters  are  low  mountain  chains  running  irregularly 
east  and  west.  These  mountains  and  the  groups  and  isolated  peaks, 
lying  still  further  to  the  east,  the  Sauratown  and  Crowder  moun- 
tains, and  Kings  mountain  have  an  arborescent  growth  similar  to 
that  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  their  woods  will 
be  considered  in  connection  with  that  (p.  210). 

Here,  however,  it  may  be  well  to  say  that  the  woods  on  the 
north  slopes  yet  contain  some  merchantable  yellow  poplar  in 
some  of  the  hollows,  with  ash,  northern  red  oak,  and  white  oak. 
The  woods  on  the  southern  slopes,  and  this  is  especially  true  of 
the  South  mountains,  the  Sauratown  and  King's  mountain,  and 
the  broad  water-shed  between  the  Green  and  Pacolet  rivers,  have 
been  many  times  burned,  and  pine  timber  has  been  very  badly 
damaged  while  tie  and  tan-bark  oak  has  been  greatly  thinned  or 
reduced  to  stool-shoots. 

The  forests  of  this  division  are  of  pine  mixed  with  broad  leaf 
trees,  of  which  the  scarlet  oak  is  the  most  abundant.  It  Is  espe- 
cially common  on  gravelly  soils  and  has  associated  with  it  the 
Spanish  oak,  post  oak,  white  oak  and,  to  a  less  extent,  the  black 
•oak,  while  along  all  high   and  sandy  crests  and  rocky  slopes  the 


WESTERN    PINE    BELT    OF    THE    PIEDMONT    PLATEAU.  205 

chestnut  oak  becomes  a  tree  of  economic  consideration.  There  is 
not  so  much  hickory  as  in  the  oak  forests  of  the  central  portion  of 
the  state  this  group  being  represented  chiefly  by  the  pignut,  white, 
and  some  smallnut.  The  sourwood  becomes  even  more  conspicuous 
than  in  Davie  and  Guilford  counties,  and  along  the  hollows  and 
northern  slopes  there  is  some  yellow  poplar,  ash  and  northern 
red  oak. 

These  woods  are  in  a  far  more  uniform  condition  than  those 
lying  to  the  eastward  and  are  much  less  broken.  There  are 
broad  expanses  of  woods,  formed  of  pine  mixed  with  broad-leaf 
trees,  with  the  cover  entire  or  somewhat  broken,  and  dotted  with 
small  groves  of  pure  pine,  either  the  short-leaf  or  the  scrub,  in 
old  fields  ;  or  there  are  extensive  areas  of  culled  or  coppiced 
woodland  adjacent  to  the  farms  and  small   towns. 

Throughout  some  portions  of  the  division  cattle  have  been 
excluded  from  the  woodland  for  periods  of  from  five  to  ten  years, 
but  most  parts  are  yet  pastured.  The  forest  floor  is  generally 
poor,  the  underwood  thin  or  entirely  absent,  and  the  cover  of  the 
mature  trees  open.  '  ,^'"' 

The  original  forest  is  from  70  to  80  feet  in  heiglit,  though  in 
many  places  it  will  not  be  over  60  feet  where  tlie  soils  are  thin 
and  poor,  while  in  hollows  and  on  cool  slopes  many  trees  will 
measure  over  100  feet  in  height.  Considering  the  division  as  a 
whole,  the  trees  stand  in  relative  abundance  about  in  tlie  follow- 
ing order:  short-leaf  pine,  scarlet  oak,  black  oak,  white  oak, 
sourwood,  chestnut  oak,  post  oak,  Spanish  oak,  and  white  hickory. 
These  form  considerably  over  three-fourths  of  the  growth. '  Less 
abundant  and  forming  the  larger  portion  of  the  remainder  of  the 
growth  are  the  dogwood,  pignut,  chestnut,  black-jack  oak,  black 
gum,  and  small-nut  hickory,  scrub  pine,  and  red  maple. 

The  culled  woods  show  an  increased  proportion  of  young  pine; 
while  scarlet  oak,  chestnut  oak,  and  sourwood  are  increasing  in 
both  culled  and  coppice  woods,  the  scarlet  oak  more  rapidly  than 
any  other  oak.  Its  young  growth  often  forms  thickets  in  the 
open  spaces  where  trees  are  removed  in  culling;  and  in  coppiced 
woodland  it  reproduces  rapidly  both  by  seedlings  and  stool-shoots. 
It  is  chiefly  on  the  drier  sandy  and  rocky  soils  that  the  chestnut 


206  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

oak  is  spreading  most  rapidly  under  culling,  especially  where  the 
cutting  is  heavy  or  where  the  woods  are  coppiced  ;  so  that  large 
areas  where  fuel  is  regnlarly  cut  show  a  growth  which  has  dete- 
riorated, so  that  while  it  formerly  consisted  of  mixed  oaks  and 
hickory,  now  it  is  of  scarcely  other  trees  than  the  scarlet  and 
chestnut  oaks.  Both  of  these  trees,  however,  are  well-suited  for 
coppice-cutting  on  account  of  their  rapid  growth,  vigorous  sprout- 
ing, and  the  long  persistence  of  the  stools. 

The  increase  of  the  red  maple  in  culled  woods  is  also  rapid. 
Under  the  protection  of  the  light  shade  so  afforded  maple  seed- 
lings can  be  found  on  all  classes  of  soils  from  the  driest  to  the 
most  moist.  On  the  moister  soils  they  seem  to  be  incorporated 
as  a  permanent  part  of  the  growth  :  but  where  the  soils  are  dry 
they  grow  more  slowly  and  are  overtopped  by  the  oaks  when 
eight  or  ten  inches  in  diameter,  put  up  sprouts  from  around  the 
base  of  the  trunk,  the  main  stem  becomes  weakened  and  dies.  In 
like  manner  many  seedlings  of  the  yellow  poplar  appear;  those 
on  the  drier  soils  soon  succumb  ;  those  on  the  moister  persist  for  a 
long  time*,  if  on  a  north  slope  even  becoming  large  trees. 
Black  gum  seedlings,  which  are  frequent  on  the  drier  soils,  con- 
tinue to  grow  for  many  years,  but  the  specimens  never  become 
more  than  small-sized  trees. 

The  regrowth  in  the  old  fields  is  uniformly  pine,  except  in  a 
few  local  areas  of  compact  red  loams,  where  it  may  be  red  cedar 
or  scrubby  broad-leaf  trees  as  vvell  as  pine.  The  pine  in  old 
fields  is  usually  the  short-leaf;  but  in  some  sections  it  is  the  scrub, 
especially  where  adjacent  to  the  mountains,  or  where  thickets  of 
that  pine  occurred  in  the  original  growth,  as  along  steep  river 
hills  or  the  thin  soils  near  granite  knolls,  the  so-called  "  flat-rocks." 
Less  frequently  white  pine  forms  the  old  field  growth,  and  then 
only  at  the  base  of  the  mountains  where  mature  trees  of  this 
species  occur.  Beneath  pine  regrowth  of  all  kinds,  unless  the 
cover  is  exceedingly  heavy,  sourwood,  red  maple  and  dogwood 
appear. 

MERCHANTABLE  TIMBER   OF  WESTERN    PIEDMONT   PINE   BELT. 

The  forests  of  the  western  pine  belt  now  yield  more  timber  than 
those   of  any   other   part  of  the    Piedmont   plateau   region,    and 


MERCHANTABLE    TIMBER,    WESTERN    PIEDMONT    PINE    BELT.  207 

exploitation  is  not  so  far  advanced  in  tliein  as  elsewhere.  There 
are  many  mills  sawing  pine  and  soft  woods  in  Wilkes  and  the 
northern  part  of  Alexander  eonnties;  mills  cutting  hardwoods  at 
Hickory,  Morganton,  Lenoir,  Old  Fort,  Thermal  Springs  and  at 
other  localities,  while  mills  sawing  pine  are  scattered  through 
the  entire  territory. 

Several  local  tanneries  obtain  their  bark  supplj^,  chiefly  chest- 
nut oak  and  white  oak  bark,  from  the  immediate  neighborhood, 
but  they  have  removed  only  about  one-half  of  the  available 
amount  in  the  South  mountains,  and  that  in  the  Brushy  moun- 
tains and  on  the  slopes  of  the  Blue  Ridge  has  yet  scarcely  been 
touched.      The  largest  tanneries  are  at  Morganton  and  Wilkesboro. 

The  largest  areas  containing  merchantable  pine  lie  in  Caldwell, 
Burke,  Alexander,  Wilkes,  and  the  northern  parts  of  Cleveland 
and  Rutherford  counties.  SOme  white  pine  of  a  low  grade  is  fur- 
nished by  the  counties  lying  along  the  base  of  the  Blue  Kidge. 
It  is  locally  used  for  building  material,  but  far  the  greater  part  of 
the  lumber  manufactured  is  utilized  in  making  shipping  boxes 
for  local  cotton  and  woolen  mills.  The  northern  pitch  pine 
occurs  through  here  above  an  elevation  of  1,300  feet,  usually 
growing  with  the  short-leaf  pine  and  distinguished  from  it  under 
the  name  of  "  black  pine"  ;  and  along  the  mountains,  above  an 
elevation  of  2,000  feet  occur  occasional  specimens  of  the  Table- 
mountain  pine,  which  finds  its  eastern  limits  on  the  rocky  sum- 
mits of  King's  mountain  in  the  southeast  and  the  Sauratown  moun- 
tains in  the  northeast,  though  in  the  intervening  territory  between 
these  two  mountains  and  the  ridge  of  the  Brushy  and  the  South 
mountains  it  is  not  known  to  occur.  All  of  these  pines  afford 
merchantable  milling  timber.  The  scrub  pine  is  abundant  on 
the  shallow  soils  of  the  mountains  and  along  the  Blue  Ridge,  fre- 
quently forming  small  patches  of  unmixed  growth.  The  milling 
oak  timber  is  the  white,  some  Spanish,  red  and  black  oak  ;  there 
is  a  great  deal  of  white  and  chestnut  oak  tie- timber,  but  not  so 
much  post  oak  as  farther  eastward,  the  scarlet  oak  largely  taking 
its  place 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE    FOREST. 

These  forests  are  capable  of  yielding  short-leaf  pine,  which  will 


208  FQREST8    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

on  the  best  soils  attain  a  height  of  90  feet,  and  on  the  poorer  a 
height  not  exceeding  TO  feet  ;  and  many  of  the  soils,  on  account 
of  their  poorness,  are  much  more  snited  for  a  growth  of  pine  than 
of  more  exacting  broad-leaf  trees  The  white  and  chestnut  oaks 
grown  on  the  crests  of  the  hills  will  make  trees  large  enough  for 
railway  ties  and  tan-bark  but  scarcely  larger  ;  on  the  moister 
npper  slopes  the  black  and  white  oaks  attain  sizes  which  make 
them  suitable  for  milling-timber;  on  the  cooler  and  moister  lower 
slopes  the  white  oak,  northern  red  oak  and  yellow  poplar  attain 
moderately  large  dimensions  and  form  good  timber.  The  Spanish 
oak  generally  reaches  only  a  small  size  and  is  often  defective; 
and  the  same  is  true  of  the  scarlet  oak.  Sonrw^ood  large  enongh 
to  be  of  value  commercially  is  usually  defective.  The  white  pine 
will  certainly  do  fairly  well  in  a  few  localities  along  the  western 
limits  of  the  division,  and  though  at  this  low  elevation  it  fails  to 
clear  the  stocks,  at  least  in  the  forest  specimens,  as  it  does  at  a 
higher  elevation,  it  is  worthy  of  being  protected  on  account  of  its 
rapid  growth.  Thickets  of  pure  growth  will  probably  form 
cleaner  shafts  than  where  single  specimens  appear  in  mixed  woods. 
The  broad-leaf  trees  require  such  care  as  was  indicated  for 
those  of  the  compact  red  loams  (p.  198).  The  white  pine  can  be 
treated  in  the  same  way  as  will  be  given  for  the  groves  of  that 
tree  occurring  in  the  high  mountains  (p.  218). 

FORESTS  OF  THE  MOUNTAIN  REGION. 

The  differences  in  the  character  of  the  forests  of  the  mountain 
region  are  not  determined  so  largely  either  by  the  kind  of  soil  or 
by  the  amount  of  moisture  contained  in  it  as  are  those  of  the 
Piedmont  plateau  and  coastal  region.  Within  short  distances 
among  the  mountains  there  are  wide  variations  in  elevation. 
With  increased  elevation  a  rapid  lowering  of  the  average  annual 
temperature  takes  place,  and  a  proportional  shortening  in  the 
growing-season  ;  increase  in  the  rain-fall  and  relative  humidity, 
and  a  decrease  in  evaporation  both  directly  from  the  soil  and 
through  transpiration.  The  effect  of  these  factors  in  limiting  the 
distribution  of  certain  species  is  more  evident  than  that  of  the 
soils;  though,  between  certain  limits  of  elevation,  changes  in  the 


FORESTS    OF    THE     IA)WER    MOUNTAINS.  209 

character  of  the  soil  intiuence  the  kind  of  growtli.  It  is  doubt- 
ful, however,  if  chaii,2;es  of  soil  in  the  larger  mountain  masses 
above  5,000  feet  elevation  produce  any  change  at  all  in  the  kind 
of  trees,  the  number  of  species  being  limited  to  those  whose  hardi- 
ness of  crown  or  foliage  and  short  growing-season  render, 
capable  of  withstanding  the  sudden  changes  of  temperature  to 
which  they  are  subjected  tow^ard  the  summits  of  the  higher  moun- 
tains. At  liigh  elevations  certain  trees  are  to  be  found  both  along 
dry  ridges  and  in  cold  swamps  ;  the  white  and  pitcli  pines  and 
black  gum  ;  and,  choosing  less  noticeable  extremes  of  soil,  are 
the  red  oak,  liemlock,  beech,  birches,  and  sugar  maple. 

The  forests  of  the  mountain  region  are  separable  into  three 
zones  or  belts  lying  at  diiferent  elevations.  These  may  be 
described  as  follows:  (1)  The  forests  of  the  lower  mountains;  (2) 
the  forests  of  the  higher  mountains;  (3)  the  forests  of  the  moun- 
tain summits. 

THE   FORESTS   OF    THE   LOWER    MOUNTAINS. 

The  forests  of  the  lower  mountains  lie  between  l,5<»0  and  3,000 
feet  elevation.  They  occupy  the  eastern  and  southern  slopes  of 
the  Blue  Ridge  and  its  outlying  spurs,  and  the  minor  chains  of  the 
Brushy  and  Sauratown  mountains  which  penetrate  or  lie  within 
the  Piedmont  plateau  region  ;  and  to  the  westward  of  the  Blue 
Eidge  they  occupy  the  hills  and  lower  mountain  slopes  about  to 
the  maximum  elevation  given  above. 

Oaks,  white,  chestnut,  black,  scarlet,  red  and  shingle,  with  some 
hickory,  chiefly  white,  bitternut  and  rarely  the  shagbark  and  small- 
nut,  with  the  chestnut  and  occasionally  dogwood,  are  the  chief 
broad-leaf  trees.  The  pines  are  the  short-leaf,  pitch.  Table  moun. 
tain,  scrub  (Jersey)  and  the  white.  These  form  a  story  of  vary, 
ing  density,  but  never  constituting  over  one-half  of  the  trees, 
slightly  above  the  broad-leaf  trees  ;  or  are  coordinate  with  them 
and  fewer  in  number.  As  the  quality  of  the  soil  improve?,  either 
as  regards  fertility  or  constant  proportion  of  moisture,  and  the  indi- 
vidual specimens  composing  the  broad-leaf  element  reach  a  hu'u'er 
size,  the  pines  become  fewer  in  number,  restricted  in  kind  to  those 
attaining  the  greater  size,  the  white  and  short-leaf,  and  are  con- 
14 


:>10  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

fined  to  the  more  rocky  und  shallow  or  sandy-soiled  crests,  and 
eventually  are  crowded  out:  either  because  the  broad-leaf  trees 
overshade  the  mature  light-loving  pines,  or  because  their  shade 
becomes  too  deep  for  the  growth  of  the  young  plant. 

DISTINCTIVE    GROWTH. 

The  forests  of  the  lower  mountains  approach  in  the  character 
of  their  economic  trees  those  of  the  western  gneisses  of  the  Pied- 
mont plateau.  The  pines,  except  the  short-leaf  and  the  scrub  (Jer- 
sey) are  usually  kinds  which  are  not  frequent  in  any  part  of  the 
Piedmont  plateau  region;  the  chestnut  oak  becomes  frequent;  the 
post  oak  and  Spanish  oak  do  not  occur  at  all  over  the  larger  part 
of  the  area;  and  the  red  oak,  shingle  oak,  and  chestnut  oak  become 
conspicuous  and  valuable  trees. 

The  forests  of  the  lower  mountains  are  separable  into  three 
divisions  :  (1)  that  in  which  the  Table  mountain  and  pitch  pines 
are  the  dominant  resinous  trees  ;  (2)  that  in  which  the  short-leaf, 
pitch,  and  scrub  pines  are  dominant  ;  (3)  that  in  which  the  white 
pine  is  the  dominant  tree. 

• 

TABLE    xMUUNTAIN     I'INE    DIVL'^IdN. 

The  area  in  which  the  Table  mountain  and  ])itcli  pines  are  the 
important  pine  timber  trees  embraces  the  eastern  and  southern 
slopes  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  with  the  outlving  spurs,  from  Georgia  to 
Virginia,  and  the  groups  of  the  Brushy,  Soutii  and  Sauratown 
mountains.  AVith  these  pines  is  to  be  found  the  short-leaf  pine, 
which  becomes  more  abundant  as  the  elevation  decreases  and  the 
soil  become  deeper  and  less  rugged.  The  slopes  of  this  range  are 
steep  ;  the  soils  are  shallow^  loams  or  sandy  loams,  ei'oding  rapidly 
under  denudation,  and,  when  cleared,  restocking  slowly  on  the  ces- 
sation of  cultivation.  The  broad-leaf  trees  which  are  associated 
with  the  pines  are  chiefly  the  scarlet  and  chestnut  oaks  and  the 
chesbiut.  These  forin  a  low,  open  growth,  seldom  exceeding  fifty 
or  sixty  feet  in  height.  There  is  no  nnderwood,  and  it  is  only 
occasionally  that  young  trees  are  found,  and  these  are  for  the  most 
part  stump  or  stool-shoots  from  trees  the  tops  of  whicii  have  been 


TABLE    MOUNTAIN     PINE    DIVISION.  211 

killed  by  the  frequent  fires  which  ravage  these  forests.  Old  trees, 
particular!}'  oaks  and  chestiiuts,  show  many  defects  from  these 
fires,  chiefij  short  and  limby  boles  and  hollows.  Pasturing  cattle 
and  ranging  swine  are  regularly  practiced  ;  firing  is  done  to 
improve  the  grass  crop  and  secure  young  stool-shoots  in  the  spring  ; 
and  to  clear  off  the  litter  before  the  fall  of  chestnuts  and  acorns 
in  the  autumn.  Locally,  white  pine  occurs.  Their  l)oles,  how- 
ever, are  short,  limby  and  frequently  defective,  the  heartwood 
being  snl^ject  to  the  attack  of  Trametes  pini,  which  caused  defective 
stocks.  The  Carolina  hemlock,  the  bark  of  whicii  possesses  the 
same  tanning  properties  as  that  of  the  hemlock,  is  confined  for 
the  inost  part  to  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Locally 
abundant,  it  is  found  at  intervals  along  this  mountain  chain,  to 
the  west  of  it  on  rugged  cliffs  along  the  north  and  south  forks  of 
the  Estatoe  river  in  Mitchell  county  ;  the  South  Fork  of  New 
river  in  Ashe  county  ;  the  gorge  of  the  Doe  river  ;  and  in  the 
southeastern  parts  of  Macon  and  Jackson  counties,  and  in  one 
locality  over  forty  miles  to  the  oast  of  this  range,  the  Sauratown 
mountains. 

In  the  deep,  narrow  hollows  which  indent  the  eastern  slopes  of 
the  Blue  Ridge,  tiie  black  walnut  grew  more  abundantly  and 
reached  a  larger  size  than  elsewhere  in  this  State  ;  but  it  has  been 
largely  removed,  and  there  are  now  only  a  few  small  trees.  Of 
the  locust,  yellow  poplar,  and  white  oak  which  grew  with  it,  only 
the  white  oak  is  still  standing  in  large  quantities.  The  timber  in 
the  hollows,  where  there  are  few  pines  and  but  occasional  hem- 
locks, has  been  less  damaged  by  fires  than  that  of  the  drier  and 
more  exposed  slopes.  Browsing  cattle,  however,  have  checked 
the  growth  of  most  of  the  young  broad-leaf  trees. 

MERCHANTABLE   TIMBER  OF  THE  TABLE   MOUNTAIN    PINE   BELT. 

There  is  now  comparatively  little  merchantable  timber  lying 
along  the  Blue  Ridge.  Locally  there  is  white  pine,  and  yellow 
pine  of  several  species  suitable  for  milling  purposes;  and  in  the 
hollows  some  yellow  poplar,  white  oak  and  chestnut  suitable  for 
lumber.  White  oak  and  chestnut  oak  railway  tie-timber  is  abun- 
dant, and  large  quantities  of  white  and  chestnut  oak  tan  ])ark  are 


212  FORESTS    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

obtainable.  Lumber  mills  obtaining  their  logs  from  these  forests 
are  in  operation  at  Lenoir  and  Hickorj',  and  smaller  mills  else- 
where. A  tannery  at  Morganton  depends  on  these  forests  largely 
for  its  oak  bark.  Fires  have  damaged  these  forests  more  than 
those  of  any  other  part  of  the  State  except  the  pine  woods  of  the 
southeastern  counties. 

The  forests  cover  nearly  the  entire  area.  The  farms  are  few 
and  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  narrow  alluvial  bottoms;  a 
few  clearings  have  been  made  on  the  more  gentle  slopes  or  broader 
rounded  crests.  Some  bottoms  have  been  permanently  damaged 
by  washing  during  floods  and  the  deposition  of  a  heavy  mud  sedi- 
ment on  the  surface  of  the  loams.  Old  fields  are  seeded  chiefly 
by  the  short-leaf,  scrub  and  northern  pitch  pines  ;  less  frequently 
by  the  white.  Sometimes  they  are  all  mixed.  Such  second 
growth  is,  however,  inconsiderable. 

The  forests  are  capable  of  producing  pine — short-leaf,  and  some 
white— together  with  chestnut  oak  on  the  slopes  and  crests  :  while 
walnut,  yellow  poplar,  white  oak  and  locust  reach  a  large  size  in 
the  hollows. 

IMPROVEMENT   OF  THE   FORESTS. 

A  complete  cessation  of  the  present  annual  firing  is  necessary, 
not  only  to  insure  the  possibility  of  a  vigorous  stand  of  young- 
trees,  but  to  afi^ord  protection  to  the  standing  stock.  Pasturage 
should  not  be  perraitled  in  such  portions  of  the]forest  as  contain 
young  growth  that  can  be  injured.  Hogs  must  be  excluded  after 
seed-years  of  nut-bearing  trees.  As  there  is  now  very  little  mer- 
chantable timber  on  the  ridges,  all  management  should  have  for 
its  object  the  improvement  of  the  general  condition  of  the  forest, 
regarding  both  density  and  preference  for  the  more  valuable  kinds 
of  trees.  Few  of  the  trees  on  the  ridges  will  form  large  merchant- 
able stocks  ;  their  utilization  extends  only  to  small  pine  milling- 
timber,  oak  railway  ties,  oak  and  Carolina  hemlock  tanbark,  small 
chestnut  and  locust  timber  for  posts  and  construction. 

The  trees  naturally  growing  here  are  light-demanding,  except 
the  chestnut,  the  white  oak  and  white  pine,  all  of  which  will 
endure  some  shade  ;  the  chestnut  the  deepest  and  the  longest,  the 
white  pine  least  and  for  the  shortest  time. 


SHORT-LEAF    AND     PITCH     PINE    FORESTS.  213 

The  eliestnut,  chestnut  oak  and  the  white  oak  can  be  relied  on 
for  reproduction  from  stump  and  stool-shoots,  the  chestnut  sprout- 
ing most  vigorously  and  from  the  largest-sized  stumps,  and  the 
white  oak  least  vigorously  and  from  the  smallest  stumps.  The 
locust  frequently  sprouts  from  small  stumps,  also  from  suckers 
under  a  thin  cover. 

SHORT-LEAF     AND    PITCH     PINE    FORESTS. 

The  area  in  which  tiie  short-leaf  and  pitch  with  the  scrub 
( Jersej' )  pine  are  the  dominant  resinous  trees,  embraces  the  basin 
of  the  French  Broad  river  in  Buncombe  and  Madison  counties, 
the  river-hills  of  the  Swannanoa,  those  of  the  French  Broad  in  Hen- 
derson county,  and  the  lower  hills  in  Haywood,  Swain,  Jackson, 
Macon,  Cherokee  and  Graham  counties,  lying  below  an  elevation 
of  2, SCO  feet  above  sea  level.  The  surface  of  this  area  is  broken 
and  rugged,  the  hills  often  steep,  between  them,  along  the  rivers 
and  smaller  streams,  lying  narrow  alluvial  tracts.  The  lowest 
elevations  are  found  on  the  eroded  slopes  of  the  Asheville  basin 
and  along  the  waters  of  the  Little  Tennessee  river,  where  at  the 
lowest  limits  the  altitude  is  not  over  2,000  feet. 

The  upland  soils  are  stiif,  mostly  even-grained  loams,  rarely 
sandy.  Although  generally  deep  and  derived  from  disintegration 
hi  sit''  of  gneiss,  or,  in  Cherokee  and  Graham  counties,  slates, 
they  are,  on  the  whole,  not  fertile  ;  those  of  the  lowlands  are  rich 
sedimentary  loams  witli  much  ve*getable  matter  along  the  smaller 
streams  ;  along  the  larger  streams  are  loams  similar  to  those  on 
the  smaller  ones,   but   more  sandy  and   less  fertile. 

The  hills  erode  rapidly  on  their  shoulders  when  unprotected. 
Old  fields,  liowever,  are  generally  quickly  seeded  in  native  grasses, 
which  form  a  retentive  turf,  and  after  a  longer  time  pines  appear. 

The  short-leaf,  pitch  and  scrub  (Jersey)  pines  are  the  character- 
istic conifurs.  The  broad-leaf  trees  which  grow  with  them  are 
<'hietly  the  white,  black,  scarlet  and  chestnut  oaks,  eliestnut,  and 
hickory.  Of  these  the  white  oak  is  first  in  numbers  and  import- 
ance. It  forms  from  .1  to  .5  of  the  entire  forest,  being  most 
abundant  along  the  slopes;  black  oaks  and  pine  superseding  it 
towards  the  crests;   other  broad-leaf  trees  toward    the    bottoms. 


214  Ft/REST8    OF    NORTH     CAROLINA. 

The   pines   form    from    .1    to    .3   of  the    forest,   being   in   greatest 
abundance  in  the  Asheville  basin  and  at  the  lower  elevations. 

CONDITION  OF  THE  PINE  FORESTS. 

The  short  leaf  and  pitch  pine  forest  covers  a  little  more  than 
one-half  of  the  area,  and  is  largely  of  these  pines  mixed  with  broad- 
leaf  trees  less  than  one-twentieth  of  the  forest  being  pure  pine 
regrowth  in  old  fields.  It  is  divided  chiefly  among  small  farms. 
On  the  uplands  it  is  decidedly  irregular,  the  cover  broken  l)y  the 
indisci-iminate  removal  of  mature  trees,  the  young  growth  beneath 
representing  all  ages.  Where  pastured  and  burned  the  forest  floor 
is  poor  and  the  young  growth  not  abundant.  On  the  l)est  soils 
these  trees  attain  an  average  height  of  from  60  to  SO  feet ;  on  the 
poorer  and  along  the  sandier  crests  from  50  to  70  feet,  the  ])ines 
being  the  taller  on  the  poorer  soils  but  being  overtopped  or  e(|uale(l 
in  height  by  the  broad-leaf  trees  in  more  fertile  situations.  The 
density  is  generally  less  than  three-fourths  of  what  it  should  be, 
natural  reproduction  being  prevented  l)y  excessive  and  injudicious 
lumbering,  pasturage,  and  burning.  In  many  places  the  mature 
pines  have  been  largely  removed,  oaks  taking  their  places,  but 
where  there  has  been  no  burning  many  young  pines  are  to  be  seen. 
The  milling  poplar  and  oak  have  been  largely  removed  ;  ])0plar, 
from  its  shade-demanding  requirements,  the  fact  that  the  young 
plants  are  eagerly  sought  for  by  browsing  cattle,  and  the  removal 
to  a  great  extent  of  the  seed-be/iring  trees,  is  reproducing  itself 
only  to  a  limited  degree  ;  the  chestnut,  the  white  oak,  black  oak. 
and  scarlet  oak  more  treely. 

Where  the  woodland  has  been  protected  for  a  great  many  years 
the"  mature  timber  shows  little  damage  from  lires  or  the  efi^ects  of 
pasturing;  there  are  only  a  few  localities,  however,  where  this  is 
the  case.  Black  oaks  and  chestnuts  often  have  hollows  from  fires  ; 
more  rarely  pines  and  white  oak. 

The  merchantable  timber  still  standing  is  chiefly  valuable  as  a 
source  of  supply  for  the  numerous  farms  to  which  the  woodland  is 
attached  and  the  small  towns  lying  near  them. 

At  present  the  forest  is  about  exhausted,  so  far  as  the  milling 


WHITE    PINE    FORESTS.  215 

pine  and  yellow  poplar  is  concerned.      Oak  and   chestnut,  tliona;li 
chiefly  of  a  small  size,  are  still  to  be  obtained. 

The  forest  is  capable  of  yielding  milling  timber,  fuel,  railway 
ties,  and  fencing,  for  most  of  which  a  local  market  can  l)e  found. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE   FORESTS 

Protection  from  Are  and  cattle  should  be  aflbrded  where  this  is 
not  already  done.  Defective  trees,  or  those  of  inferior  kinds, 
which  are  interfering  with  young  growth  beneath  them  should  be 
removed.  Proximity  to  farms  will  generally  allow  this  to  be  done 
as  such  wood  can  be  made  use  of  as  fuel.  The  growth  should  be 
allowed  to  thicken  up  to  restore  the  humus  and  give  the  re(|nisite 
shade. 

Most  of  the  land  here  is  too  broken  to  permit  clean  cuttings 
without  danger  of  great  injury  to  the  soil.  Pure  growth  of  pine, 
on  the  gentler  slopes  could,  however,  be  cut  without  danger  of 
excessive  washing.  Naturally  the  forest  requires  selection  cut- 
ting. 

The  pines  and  yellow  po])lar  require  reproduction  in  all  cases 
from  seed.  To  supply  smaller  wood  for  fuel  and  farm  use  most  of 
the  broad  leaf-trees  can  be  reproduced  from  stool-shoots. 

Fields  are  seeded  by  pines  and  to  some  extent  by  locust ;  rarely 
by  nut-bearing  trees.  The  yellow  poplar  will  propagate  in  thin 
woods  on  a  damp  soil  as  the  seedlings  require  some  shade.  The 
short-leaf  is  the  most  valuable  of  the  pines,  and  though  at  first 
not  the  most  rapid-growing,  the  Jersey  or  scrul)  out  growing  it, 
should  be  protected  at  the  expense  of  the  others  if  it  is  intended 
to  permit  the  trees  to  reach  a  large  size. 

WHITE    PINE    FORESTS. 

The  woodland  in  which  white  pine  is  the  dominant  coniferous 
tree  is  not  extensive,  but  lies  in  isolated,  small  bodies  along  the 
crest,  and  southern  and  eastern  slopes  of  tiie  Plue  Uidge,  or  on  the 
low  hills  on  the  west. 

The  most  extensive  forests  containing  white  pine  lie  in  the 
soutlieastern  part  of  Ashe  county,  extending,  though  interrupted, 


:216  FOKESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

lip  the  valley  of  the  South  Fork  of  New  river  into  Wutauga 
conntj;  in  the  upper  valley  of  the  Linville  river  in  Mitchell 
county  ;  in  the  valley  of  the  French  Broad  river  in  Transylvania 
county  ;  and  in  the  southern  parts  of  Macon  and  Jackson  coun- 
ties, at  an  elevation  of  2,800  to  3,800  feet  above  sea  level,  exten- 
sive forests  seldom  being  found  above  the  higher  limit,  or  perfect 
individual  development  attained  below  the  lower.  The  total  area 
of  white  pine  forest  is  not  over  200,000  acres. 

In  a  few  places  on  the  southern  slope  of  the  Blue  Eidgc,  par- 
ticularly along  the  headwaters  of  the  Elk,  Yadkin,  and  Roaring 
rivers  in  Wilkes  and  McDowell  counties,  and  the  upper  valley  of 
the  Johns  river,  the  white  pine  is  associated  with  yellow  pines  as 
well  as  with  deciduous  trees,  but  the  trees  are  generally  short- 
boled  and  neither  so  large  nor  tall  as  those  growing  at  a  higher 
elevation  to  the  west  of  this  range. 

Single  specimens  or  small  groups  of  trees  are  locally  dispersed 
in  the  broad-leaf  forests  throughout  the  mountain  counties 
between  the  limits  of  altitude  given  above.  Their  value,  how- 
ever, is  potential  rather  than  actual,  since,  growing  on  the  thin- 
soiled  crests  of  ridges  and  failing  to  develop  clear  shafts,  they  lack 
the  essential  requirements  of  timber  trees  ;  but,  as  possible  sources 
for  the  dissemination  of  seed  either  in  denuded  land  or  iti  tliinned 
woodland,  es|>ecially  where  pastured,  their  utility  may  become 
great.  Such  groups  of  trees  are  to  be  found  in  Alleghany, 
Madison,  Haywood,  and  Graham  counties,  besides  in  portions  of 
other  counties  in  which  bodies  of  more  compact  growth  occur. 

Tlie  white  })iiie  is  generally  associated  with  white,  black,  red, 
and  less  often,  scarlet  and  chestnut  oaks,  chestnut,  and  hickory, 
when  growing  along  the  crests  or  flanks  of  rolling  hills,  on  coarse, 
often  porous,  gravelly,  loamy  soils;  or  less  frequently  with  hem- 
lock, sweet  and  yellow  birch,  red  oak,  and  pitch  pine  along  moist 
or  wet  fluvial  deposits  on  fertile,  loamy  soils. 

CONDITION   OF  THE  WHITE   PINE   FORESTS 

In  some  localities  these  forests  have  been  extensively  culled  or. 
lumbered  ;  in  others,  their  integrity  is  as  yet  scarcely  broken. 
Where  they  have  not  l)een  dismembered    two  groups  of  trees  are 


CONDITION     OF    THE    WHITE     FINE    FORESTS.  217 

represented  :  white  pine,  fonnint^  an  upper  group,  from  100  to  150 
feet  in  height,  and  usually  .1  to  .3  of  the  growth  ;  beneath  this, 
a  group  of  deciduous  trees  of  varying  height,  but  rarely  over  90 
»r  less  than  7o  feet,  composed  chiefly  of  white,  Vdack,  and  chest- 
nut oak,  and  chestnut.  Of  these,  white  oak  is  the  most  abun- 
dant. 

Where  lumbered  they  are  irregular;  occasional  decrepit  white 
pines  overtopping  the  deciduous  growth,  which,  however,  has 
been  cut  into  only  locally  ;  but  where  around  settlements  both 
pine  and  hardwoods  have  been  culled  the  entire  cover  is  broken 
and  thin. 

One  of  the  effecits  of  pasturing  forest  lands  is  that  while 
young  plants  of  deciduous  trees  havu  been  destroyed,  pines  have 
increased  ;  Init  where  burning  is  practiced,  sourwood,  scarlet  oak, 
white  oak  and  other  vigorous  and  free  sproufers  have  propagated 
most  rapidly,  while  pines  have  diminished. 

In  a  few  places  a  iieavy  underwood  of  the  great  laurel,  less 
commonly  of  laurel  (ivy),  grows  beneath  the  deciduous  trees,  form- 
ing a  thicket  10  to  15  feet  in  height,  with  many  crooked  stocks 
rising  from  the  same  burly  roots.  Where  this  underwood  is  pres- 
ent the  deciduous  growth  above  is  usually  more  open,  but  l)rows- 
ing  cattle  have  inflicted  less  damage  on  young  growth  of  tender- 
leaf  species,  and  fires  are  less  frequent;  the  humus  is  thick  and 
the  soil  unimpaired. 

There  are  onl}'  few  farms  in  the  area  of  white  pine  forest; 
probaljly  less  than  20  |jer  cent,  of  the  total  acreage  being  under 
cultivation.  In  Ashe  and  Watauga  counties  the  forest  is  divided 
cliieliy  among  small  farms;  in  Mitchell  and  Macon  are  large  areas 
thinl_y  settled.  On  the  farms  the  woodland  has  been  more  largely 
culled  and  pastured,  and  its  density  will  seldom  l)e  above  two- 
thirds  of  the  normal  condition. 

A  few  groves  of  vigorous  young  pines  have  sprung  up  in  the 
fields  from  the  self-sown  seed  of  neighboring  forest  trees;  but 
such  groves  are  not  common.  Young  pines  are  increasing  in  the 
woodland  only  to  an  inconsiderable  extent.  Much  of  the  bottom 
land  on  which  this  pine  grows  has  already  been  deforested,  and 
it    is   probable    that    all    of  it  will    eventually    be   l»rought    under 


218  FORESTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

cultivation,  as  the  soil  is  of  superior  quality  and  stands  tillage 
better  than  that  of  the  adjacent  hills.  The  forests  on  the  hills, 
however,  should  be  regarded  as  permanent,  and  care  bestowed  on 
them  accordingly. 

Larger  pines,  being  protected  by  their  thick  bark,  are  damaged 
only  to  a  sligiit  extent  by  fires;  young  ones  while  the  bark  is  yet 
smooth  are  more  readily  scorched  and  injured  and  sometime 
killed.  Oaks  and  chestnuts  show  hollows  from  the  effects  of  fires, 
particularly  along  ridges  and  in  dry  woods. 

MERCHANTABLE  TIMBER   OF  THE   WHITE    PINE    FORESTS 

Extensive  areas  of  unlumbered  forest  still  exist  in  Transylvania, 
Macon  and  Mitchell  counties.  The  standing  trees  will  yield  fairly 
good  lumber,  though  it  is  seldom  tliat  over  two  cuts,  16  feet  in 
length,  from  which  clear  boards  are  obtainable,  can  he  secured 
from  one  tree.  Snialler  bodies  ^yielding  a  larger  proportion  of 
knotty  timl)er  are  standing  in  Wilkes,  McDowell,  and  Caldwell 
counties.  Lumbering  is  in  progress  in  Mitchell,  Caldwell,  and 
Wilkes  counties. 

IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE   WHITE   PINE   FORESTS. 

At  the  higher  altitudes  these  forests  are  capable  of  producing 
pine  milling  timber  of  good  quality,  large  chestnut  and  oak  tim- 
ber, ties  and  fencing.  At  present  there  is  no  local  market.  Below 
2,000  feet  the  pines  fail  to  clear  their  stocks  and  the  growth  i& 
slower,  so  that  very  little  lumber  free  from  knots  can  1)e  made 
from  any  trunk. 

In  places  where  there  is  young  growth,  protection  from  fire  and 
cattle  is  imperative.  Defective  seed-bearing  pines,  which  are  not 
seriously  interfering  with  young  growth,  should  be  allowed  to 
remain  as  seed-trees,  both  in  lumbering  and  where  culling  is 
carried  on.  It  is  essential  that  the  growth  be  maintained  at  the 
fullest  possible  density  until  the  young  pines  have  cleared  them- 
selves, as  otherwise  from  their  tendency  towards  perfect  symme- 
try in  the  development  of  most  of  the  buds  into  limbs,  the  boles- 
will  be  limby  and  knotty.  As  the  young  trees  re(|uire  small  grow- 
ing-space,  the  crowns   standing    much     lateral    compression    and' 


FORESTS    OF    THE    HIGHER    MOUJSITAINS  219 

being  to  a  certain  extent  shade-bearing,  the  density  can  scarcely 
be  too  great  until  the  trees  reach  the  size  of  large  poles.  The  rate 
of  height-growth  is  more  rapid  than  tliat  of  any  of  the  associated 
species,  averaging  for  the  first  fifty  years  over  a  foot  of  height-growth 
a  year  ;  and  for  the  first  ten  years  nearly  18  inclies  a  year,  so 
that  the  young  trees  quickly  free  themselves  from  the  shade  of 
broad-leaf  trees  when  growing  with  them. 

The  white  pine  seeds  many  old  fields,  but  not  so  (juickly  or 
thoroughly  as  the  short-leaf  pine.  In  such  groves  of  pure  pine 
the  stand  should  be  kept  thick  and  should  not  be  culled  until  the 
height-growtli  is  made.  If  grown  in  pure  wood,  selection  cutting- 
would  best  preserve  the  factors  of  the  locality,  but  there  are  many 
places  where  clear  cutting  would  be  permissible.  The  proportion 
of  pine  in  wood  mixed  with  hroad-leaf  trees  can  well  be  increased 
to  twice  or  even  three  times  what  it  is  at  present,  as  it  is  the 
most  valuable  tree  growing  on  these  gravelly  hills.  The  pine 
begins  to  seed  in  abundance  when  about  forty  or  forty-five  years 
old,  and  seed  are  borne  abundantly  once  in   2  or  3  years. 

THE   FORESTS   OF   THE   HIGHER    MOUNTAINS. 

These  forests  embrace  all  the  woodland  lying  at  an  elevation 
above  that  of  the  forests  of  the  lower  hills  and  below  5,OO0  feet. 
The  lower  limit  of  their  distribution  is  about  3,<>0()  feet,  but  on 
southern  slopes,  particularly  along  the  Blue  Ridge,  the  distinct- 
ive character  of  the  growth  does  not  appear  for  several  hundred 
feet  above  this  limit,  following  closely  the  isothermal  with  the 
variation  incidental  to  changes  in  moisture  in  the  soil,  depth  of 
soil,  and  its  piiysical  characters. 

The  greater  part  of  the  woodland  of  the  counties  of  Alleghany, 
Ashe,  AVatauga,  Mitchell,  and  Yancey  is  so  situated  ;  and  in  the 
mountain  region  to  the  south  of  these  counties,  the  woodland 
lying  around  the  base  and  on  the  slopes  of  the  larger  mountain 
masses. 

About  one-third  of  the  area  originally  occupied  by  these  for- 
ests is  now  under  tillage  or  in  meadow  ;  the  rest  is  more  nearly 
virgin  than  any  other  considerable  extent  of  forest  to  be  found  in 
this  State.     The  situation,   on  steep  slopes  or  rugged  declivities. 


^20  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

the  distance  from  large  waterways,  and  the  inaccessibility  of  the 
region  to  railways,  has  rendered  it  impossible  to  economically 
remove  any  but  the  most  valuable  timbers  ;  while  difficulty  of  til- 
lage, and  the  short  growing-season  have  tended  to  prevent  exten- 
sive cultivation  of  those  lands  lying  above  8,500  feet  elevation. 

SOILS    OF    THE    HIGHER    MOUNTAINS. 

The  soils  are  rather  fine  and  even-grained  loams,  gray  or  red 
in  color,  or  black  from  organic  ingredients;  the  loamy  and  gen- 
erally stiffer  sub-soils  red  or  gray.  Over  the  larger  part  of  the 
area  they  are  derived  from  the  decomposition,  in  situ,  of  gneiss  or 
gneissic  rocks  or  schists,  and  are  sufficiently  deep  for  tree-growth, 
particularly  along  the  lower  slopes,  where  detritus  washed  from 
above  has  accumulated  or  obscurely  marked  river  terraces  exist. 

In  portions  ofCherokee  and  Graham  counties,  and  locally  else- 
where, the  soils  derived  from  slates,  qnartzite  and  metamorphosed 
sandstones  are  shallower,  thinner  and  not  so  favorable  to  tree- 
growth.  The  soils  of  the  upper  slopes  are  thinnest,  the  clayey 
particles  being  more  largely  washed  out,  and  are  sometimes  shal- 
low. Those  of  the  sedimentary  bottoms  are  more  loamy  and 
coaiser,  with  more  organic  constituents  and  less  clayey,  sometimes 
underlaid  by  pipe  clay,  and  ill-drained.  The  soils  of  the  lower 
slopes  are  generally  deep  and  are  the  most  clayey. 

FOREST    TREES    OF     THE     HIGHER    MOUNTAINS. 

The  forests  of  the  high  mountains  may  be  divided  into  (1)  those 
lying  on  the  crests,  and  on  the  slopes  facing  the  south,  and  (2) 
those  of  the  north  slopes  and  hollows,  and  along  the  bottom  lands. 
The  soils  of  south  hill-sides  are  drier  and  are  thinner  than  those 
on  slopes  with  a  northerly  aspect,  and  the  amount  of  light  and 
heat  is  greater  than  is  secured  on  hill-sides  with  equal  inclination 
to  the  north,  and  the  trees  are  conse(|Uontly  of  more  light-demand- 
ing kinds. 

The  trees  occurring  on  the  slopes  facing  the  north  and  in  the 
hollows  are:  hemlock,  birches,  maples,  beech,  chestnut,  red  oak, 
white    oak,  great    laurel,    yellow    poplar,   white   ash,    cucumber, 


X.   C.    GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY. 


lULLETIX  6.      PLATE  XXIIL 


MIXED    HARPWOOD    FOREST    OF    THE    MOUNTAIN    REGION 


CONDITION    OF    THE    FORESTS.  221 

buckeye.  The  characteristic  trees  which  are  to  be  found 
on  the  northern  slopes  and  hollows  are  :  hemlock,  ,^reat  laurel, 
sweet  birch,  yellow  birch.      (Plate  XXIII.) 

On  the  southern  slopes  and  alons^  the  gravelly  crests  of  the  hills 
the  growth  is  less  varied,  being  largely  composed  of  chestnut^ 
white  oak,  red  oak,  black  oak,  and  chestnut  oak.  The  forest  on 
southern  slopes  is  less  dense  than  on  northern  and  the  trees  are 
smaller. 

CONDITION     OF    THE     FOKESTS. 

The  cover  of  these  forests  has  scarcely  been  broken,  the  tops  of 
the  trees  presenting  a  nearly  uniform  surface  throughout,  the 
crowns  closely  interlocking  and  forming  a  dense  shade.  Beneath 
them  is  a  good  floor,  usually  free  from  grass  and  weeds  and  gen- 
erally with  a  deep  humus. 

On  the  best  soils  along  the  lower  slopes  and  bottoms  the  forests 
attain  an  average  height  of  from  90  to  120  feet,  with  clear  shafts  of 
60  to  90  feet,  bearing  narrow  crowns.  On  the  poorer  and  thinner 
soils,  particularly  towards  the  upper  slopes,  the  forests  become 
low  and  less  dense,  the  cover  often  thin  and  open,  the  boles  of  the 
trees  shorter,  generally  crooked  and  knotty,  bearing  great  spread- 
ing crowns. 

In  very  many  places  there  are  two  groups  of  trees  represented 
in  the  forest :  a  dominant  arborescent  growth  of  large  trees  varied 
as  to  species  and  forming  the  commercially  valuable  timbers  ; 
beneath  tliem  a  group  of  evergreen  shrubs  or  under-trees,  often  of 
great  density,  formed  of  the  great  rhododendron  and  laurel.  In 
most-places  there  is  present  a  vigorous  young  growth  of  the  domi- 
nant group  of  trees  if  they  are  shade-bearing  species  :  beech, 
birch,  and  hemlock  on  the  wetter  soils  ;  sugar  maple  and  occasion- 
ally red  oak  on  the  drier,  the  young  growth  forming  thickets, 
sometimes  of  pure  growth,  beneatli  the  parent  trees  ;  but  where 
the  cover  has  been  broken  by  trees  being  removed  in  lumbering 
or  by  windfalls,  irregular  thickets  of  light-loving  species  spring 
up  :  chestnut,  encumber  tree,  yellow  poplar,  white  ash,  white  and 
red  oaks,  which  can  endure  a  deep  shade  only  for  a  short  time. 

Browsing  cattle  have  damaged  young  growth  to  a  great  extent, 


222  FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

especially  such  kinds  as  will  not  endure,  beneath  the  shade  of 
other  trees,  repeated  cropping:  yellow  poplar,  white  ash  and 
oak  ;  sugar  maple  and  beech  to  a  less  degree.  In  many  places 
about  fallen  trees  and  the  openings  made  in  lumbering,  where 
there  would  be  a  heavy  young  stand,  cattle  have  prevented  its 
growth  until  thickets  of  brambles  have  sprung  up  witliin  which 
young  seedling  trees  find  protection. 

Forest  fires  have  inflicted  only  slight  injury  either  to  standing 
timber  or  to  young  growth  on  the  northern  slopes,  as  the  damp 
or  fresh  humus  does  not  readily  carry  fire,  but  on  the  south  sides 
much  timber  has  been  damaged. 

MERCHANTABLE    TIMBEK    OF    THE     HIGHER    MOUNTAINS. 

Merchantable  trees  of  walnut  and  cherry,  which  have  been 
much  sought  after  for  cabinet-making  have  been  nearly  all 
removed.  Occasionally  large  trees  of  the  former  kind  are  to  be 
found,  and  a  few  small  boaies  of  the  latter  still  exist  upon  the 
higher  mountains.  Yellow  poplar  and  cucumber-tree,  being  the 
chief  building  materials  of  the  region,  have  largely  been  removed  ; 
large  1>odies  are  still  to  be  found,  however,  intact,  particularly  in 
Yancey,  Mitchell,  and  Transylvania  counties,  and  smaller  ones  in 
many  other  places  in  the  mountains.  Floating  timbers,  white 
pine,  vellow  poplar,  ash  and -chestnut  have  been  largely  removed 
from  the  lower  valley  of  the  French  Broad  to  supply  mills  at 
Asheville.  Oak  has  been  cut  nowhere  except  for  local  use.  The 
Little  Tennessee  river  and  its  tributaries  liave  had  much  of  the  float- 
ing timber  removed  from  them  near  the  water  courses.  Hemlock 
has  been  cut  only  around  Cranberry  and  adjacent  to  some  of  the 
laro-er  water  courses.  Ash  has  been  generally  removed  wher- 
ever means  of  transportation  were  available.  Birch,  except 
curly  yellow  birch,  has  never  been  lumbered,  and  the  same  is  true 
of  maple,  beech,  and  lin   (basswood). 

Chestnut  has  been  locally  removed.  Around  all  settlements 
and  farming  communities  a  great  portion  of  the  oak,  chestnut  and 
poplar  has  been  removed,  and  the  forests  are  much  broken. 

FOREST    INDUSTRIES    OF    THE    MOUNTAIN    REGION. 

There  are  mills  sawing  lumber  at  Linville,  Cranberry,  Asheville 


FORESTS,  OF    THE    MOUNTAIN    SUMMITS.  223 

and  Hot  Springs  and  small  ones  along  and  near  the  railways.  The 
Watanga,  Toe,  Little  Tennessee  river  and  its  tribntaries  afford 
transportation,  the  timber  going  to  various  places  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, chiefly,  though,  tc  Knoxville.  Hemlock  is  l^arked  around 
Cranberry  for  tanneries  at  Elizabethton,  Tenn.,  and  chestnut  oak 
is  barked  around  Asheville  for  local  tanneries.  No  use  is  made 
■of  the  hemlock  stocks  after  they  have  been  barked  ;  the  oak  is 
converted  into  cordwood  and  sold  for  fuel.  Walnut,  curly  ash 
and  curly  birch  are  shipped  in  the  log  to  veneering  factories.  The 
best  (juality  of  yellow  poplar,  ash,  and  oak  timber  from  here  goes 
chiefly  to  Philadelphia  and  Cincinnati,  and  other  inland  points, 
sawn  in  S  to  12  inch  squares.  Locust  pins  are  manufactured  at 
Bryson  City,  Waynesville  and  other  places.  Only  a  few  staves 
are    made  and    not  many    white   oak   railway   ties   are  produced. 

In  the  more  remote  districts  birch  oil  {oil  of  wintergreen)  from 
the  sweet  birch  is  distilled  in  crude  home-made  retorts,  constructed 
of  wood,  lined  with  olay  and  with  metal  bottoms.  This  was  an 
extensive  and  profitable  industry  until  overproduction  reduced 
the  price.      The  timber  of  trees  thus  Ijarked  is  rarely  used. 

Among  other  smaller  industries,  which  are  carried  on  with 
moie  or  less  profit,  are  keeping  bees,  in  sections  whei'e  the  sonr- 
wood,  yellow  poplar  and  lin  are  abundant,  to  utilize  their  fiowers 
for  honey;  the  sale  of  nuts  from  the  native  chestnut;  and  the 
manufacture    of  syrup  and  sugar  from  the  maples. 

THE   FORESTS   OF   THE   MOUNTAIN    SUMMITS. 

The  bhick  spruce  is  the  characteristic  tree  of  these  forests. 
With  it  is  generally  associated  the  Carolina  balsam,  the  lower 
limit  of  which  is  about  300  feet  above  that  of  the  blacdc  spruce. 

The  mountain  ash  (mountain  sumach),  striped  and  spiked 
maples  and  wild  red  cherry  are  small  broad-leaf  trees  which  are 
usually  found  growing,  though  not  abundantly,  with  the  l)alsam 
and  spruce. 

These  forests  of  sombre  evergreens  lie  along  the  summits  of  the 
highest  mountains,  seldom  ])eing  found  on  peaks  with  an  eleva- 
tion of  less  than  5,500  feet  above  sea  level.  They  cap  the  Grand- 
father an-d  the  adjacent  pinnacle  of  tlie  Grandmother  ;  encircle  in 
a  great   belt'  the  rounded    bald  of  the  Roan  ;  stretch  along   the 


-224:  FORESTS    OF    NORTH     OAROl.INA. 

numerous  massive  peaks  of  tlie  Blacks  from  Bolen's  Pyramid  to 
the  Pinnacle  ;  lie  on  the  top  of  Pisgah  ;  cover  the  crests  and  upper 
slopes  of  the  Great  Smoky  mountains  and  the  cross-chain  of  the 
Balsams  as  a  nearly  continuous  forest  for  a  distance  of  almost 
thirty  miles,  and  crown  the  tops  of  the  higher  peaks  of  the  south- 
ern parts  of  Macon  and  Jackson  counties.  From  their  dark  foMage 
the  Blacks  and  Great  Smoky  mountains  derive  their  names,  and 
the  Balsam  mountains  from  the  growth  upon  them.  The  lower 
limits  of  the  forests  lie  on  an  average  above  5,000  feet  above  sea 
level,  or  a  little  less.  On  north  slopes,  within  deep  and  cool  hol- 
lows, they  extend  as  low  as  4,700  on  the  Grandfather  mountain, 
4,600  feet  at  the  head  of  Caney  river  in  the  Blacks,  and  4,500 
feet  at  the  head  of  Forney's  creek  in  the  Great  Smoky  mountains, 
while  on  bold  south  slopes,  as  occur  in  the  Blacks  and  elsewhere, 
the  broad-leaf  trees  will  often  extend  as  high  as  5,300  or  5,500 
feet. 

Commercially  these  forests  are  at  present  unimportant. 


INDEX. 


PAGE. 

Abies  fraseri 136 

Acer  barbatum 50 

leucoderme 23 

dasycarpum 51 

leucoderme 22 

negundo 53 

pennsylvanicnm 49 

rubrum 52 

saccharimini,  L 51 

saccharimun,  WaiiK 50 

spicatuiii 48 

Aesculus  octandra 47 

Amelanchier  canadensis  60 

Apple,  crab 27 

Aborvltaj 19,  119 

Ash 70.  73,  rS,  74 

green 21, 73 

mountain 20 

red 31,  72 

water 21,73 

white 21.70 

Asimina  triloba 41 

Aspen 2.S.  117 

Balsam 19,136 

Bald  cypress 123 

Basswood 33,  43 

Bav 43 

bull 43 

loblony 36,43 

i-ed 26,  74 

smooth  red 36 

swamp 34 

sweet 26, 34,  74 

white 33.34 

Beech 28,  111 

blue 113 

water 113 

Betulalenta 115 

lutea 113 

nitrra 114 

Birch,  bitter 113 

black 114, 115 

cherry 28,115 

red 114 

river 28, 114 

sweet 28 

vellow 28,  113 

Bitternut 31,84 

Black  s?um 36,  63 

spruce 19.1:33 

walnut 31,83 

Boxelder 31,53 

Boxwood 47,63 

Buckeye 31,  47 

Butternut .; 83 

Buttonwood 81 

Carolina  Balsam,  see  balsam. 
Carolina  hemlock,  see  hemlock. 

Carpynus  caroliniana 113 

Carya  alba 86 

amara 84 

tomentosa 87 

Castanea  dentata 109 

pumila 26 

Cedar,  red 19, 121 

swamps 175, 177 

white 19, 119, 175 

white,  treatment  of 178 

white,  merchantable 177 

Celtis  occideutalis 80 

Cercis  canadensis 57 

Cherry,  bird 58 

flre 58 

wild  black 37,  59 


P\GE. 

wild  red 27,  .58 

Chestnut 26, 109 

Chinquapin 26 

(^hionamhus  virginica 21 

Chittam 56 

Coastal  plain 143 

forests 144 

forest  Industries 164 

Cottonwood 22, 118 

Deciduous  forests  of  ttie  lledmont  pla- 
teau  1S6, 199,  203 

Deerwood 49 

Devil  wood .21 

Diospyros  virginlana 68 

Dogwood 22,63 

flowering 63 

swamp 48,  49 

Elm,  American 29,  76 

cork 77 

slippery 29,  78 

soutliern 77 

winged 29,  77 

Fagus  ferrugiiiea Ill 

Forest  divisions,  see  under  coastal 
plain,  Piedmoat  plateau  and  moun- 
tain region. 

Forest  growth  of  coastal  plain 143, 147 

mountain  region. .210, 213, 

215,  230,  323 
Of  Piedmont  plateau.. 183, 

186,  188,  196,  304 
Forest  improvement  in  coastal  plain  159 
164, 173 

in  mountain  region 313,  215,  318 

in  Piedmont  jtlarcau    Is.'),  los,  207 
Forest  industries  of  coa si. i I  pi.-iin..  !.')S,  ii;4 
of  nioiMitaiii  n',m(iii..;.';,'2 
of  Pietlniont  plateau. .206 
Forest  management,see  f .  im  provenient, 
and    under  sylvicultural   treatment; 
also  under  each  tree. 
Forest  protection  in  coastal  plain... .159, 

164,  173,  178,  180 
In  mountain  region  .212 

215,  318 
in    Piedmont    plateau, 

isr..  r.n.  i!t:n98, 307 

Forest  regions lU,  142.  14;>,  181,  208 

Forest  soils  of  coastal  plain   .141.  144, 149 

152,  168,  170,  173,  175,  179 
of  mountain  region..  142,  210, 

213.  220 
Of  Piedmont  plateau.  142, 182 
187,  189,  191,  194,  196,  204 
Forests, deciduous, of  Piedm't  i>latpau..l96 
Forests,  influences  which  account  for 
change  of  growth  of,  143,  181,  183,  186, 
208,  320 ;  also  see  soils. 

Forests,  maritime 144 

Forests  of  coastal  plain 143 

of  eastern  pine  belt  of  Piedmont 

plateau 198 

of  granite  areas  (eastern) 189 

of  aum  and  cypress 173 

of  higher  mountains 219 

of  long-leaf  pine 149 

of  loblolly  pine 16] 

of  lower  mountains 309 

of  maritime  belt 144 

of  mountain  region 308 

of  mountain  summits 323 

of  oak  flats 170 

of  Piedmont  lowlands 183 

of  Piedmont  region 181 


226 


PASK. 

Of  Piedmont  uplands ISti 

of  pine  belt  of  coastal  plain 147 

of  pine  belt  of  Piedmont  plateau, 

eastern ISS 

of  pine  belt  of  Pisdinunt  plateau, 

western "iOi 

of  red  clays -19r>   j 

of  sandstone.  easCtrn 191   i 

of  short-leaf  pine 188, 204,  SOJ   i 

of  slate  soils 194 

of  swamps 169, 183   | 

of  white  cedar 175   ; 

ot  white  pine 315   ; 

Fraxinuds  americana 70   i 

caroliniana 73 

pennsylvaniea 7:i 

pennsylvanica  lfau>eolata 73   j 

Fringe- tree 31 

Gleditschia  triacantlios 5t5 

Gordonia  lasianthus 43 

Gum 61,63   I 

black., 26,  63   j 

sour 63 

tupelo 26, 65 

Gum  and  cypress  swamps 173   | 

timber 174 

Hackberry 27,  80 

Haws,  black 33 

red 37 

He  balsam 133 

Hemlock 19,  134,  135 

Caroliua 19,  135,211 

Hicoria  alba 87 

aquatica 85 

carolinge-septentrioualis....20,  201 

glabra 88 

minima 81 

ovata 86 

laclniosa 20 

odorata 3  J 

villosa 31 

Hickox-y,  big-bud 87 

bitternut 21,  84 

Carolina  shag-bark. 2iJ 

large  shag  bark 30 

pignut 20,  8S 

red-heart 20,84 

sand 21 

scaly -bark 88 

shag-bark 20,  88 

smallnut 30 

small  shag-bark 20,  301 

swamp 85 

water 31,  85 

white 31,87 

Holly 23,48 

Hop-hornbeam 29,113 

Hornbeam 38,113 

Hex  opaca ..46 

Indian  bitters 38 

Ironwood 47, 113, 113 

Ivy 67 

Judas  tree 57 

Juglans  cinei-ea S3 

nigra 83 

Juniper 19,119 

Juniperus  vh-giniana 131    i 

Kalmia  latitolia 67    ! 

Laurel 67,68   I 

Leatherwood 47 

Level  pine  woodland,  also  see  under  I 

forest 152, 156, 161   | 

Lin 23,  43,  45 

southern 33,  44    | 

Linden 43,  44,  45   1 

Liriodendrou  tulipilera 39 

Loblolly  pine,  also  see  pine.. .18, 125, 161, 192 

condition  of  forest 163 

merchantable 183 

protection 184 

reproduction 165 

sylvicultural  treatment. 16) 
woodland 161 


PAGE. 

Locust 54 

black 54 

clammy 20,55 

honev 30,56 

yellow 20,54 

Long-leaf  pine       18,131 

c.-.  Ill,  I  it  lull  of 153,156 

disti'iljuti  u 151 

protection 154, 159 

soils  on  which  grows. 153, 156 
sylviculturaltrtatm>  nt.l59 

woodland 150. 151 

Magnolia  (evergreen) 33,  33 

acuminata 35 

foetida 33 

fraseri 38 

glauca 34 

graiidiflora 33 

great  leaved 34,  36 

macrophylla 36 

mountain 34,  38 

ti-ipetala 37 

Maple 32,51,53 

ashleat 53 

mountain 22,  48 

red 22,  49 

rock 50 

silver "22,  51 

soft 51 

striped 22,  49 

sugar .50 

swamp .52 

white 33 

white  bark 22 

Maritime  forests,  condition  of 115 

soils  of 144 

Mockernut 87 

Mock  orange 26 

Mohrod-^ndron  carolinum 70 

Moras  rubra 79 

Mountain  ash 20 

magnolia 38 

maple 48 

Mountain  region,  di\  ision 208 

foi-ests  of,  see  under  forests. 

Mulberry 33,79 

Oak,  description  of : 

Bartram's  oak 25 

basliet 95 

black 25. 101 

black- jack 21. 1U4 

blue 107 

buck 93 

chestnut 25,  93 

cow 95 

tork-leaf  black-jack 2.5, 103 

laurel 24.  106 

Lea's 34 

live 21,  96 

nortliern  red 35 

overcup 25,  93 

pill 106 

post 25,  91 

red 25,  97,  99,  103 

rock  clitstuut 25,  93 

sand 25,  103 

sand  black-jack 25. 102 

scarlet 25,  99 

scrub Iii3 

spotted .  ;i9 

shingle :-'4.  Iii7 

Spanish 2.),  'J'.i,  103 

swamp  chestnut 25,  95 

swamp  post 92 

swamp  red 98 

swamp  wliite 95 

Texas  red I'l,  98 

turkey lu2.  im;.  107 

upland  willow 24,  UI7 

water 24,  1U5,  106 

white 25,  89 

willow 24,  106,  108 

Oak  flats 170 


227 


PAGE. 

Oak  flats  soils  of 171 

timber  of 173 

treatment   of 173 

Olive,  American 31 

Osmanthus  americana 31 

Ostrya  virginica 113 

Oxyclendron  arboreum b6 

Palmetto 29,136 

Papaw 41 

Persea  borbonia 3(5,  7't 

borbonia  pubesceus '.iG 

Persimmon 37,  68 

Peruvian 58 

Picea  nigra 133 

Piedmont  plateau  divisions,  see  forest. 
Piedmont  plateau  forests,  see  forest. 

Pignut 20,  88 

Pine  barrens,  see  forests. 
Pine  belt,  see  forests. 
Pine,  description  of ; 

black 126 

cedar 138 

heart 13U 

Jersey 18,  138 

loblolly 18,  135 

long  leaf 18, 131 

northern  pitch 18, 136 

pond 18, 137 

white 18, 133 

short  leaf 18, 130 

scrub 18. 138 

spruce 128, 130,  134,  135 

Table  mountain 18, 139 

yellow 130 

Pinus  echinata 130 

mitis 130 

palustris 131 

pungens 139 

rlgida 136 

serotina 127 

tseda 135 

strobus 123 

vii-giniaua 1^8 

Planer  tree 28 

Platanus  occidentalis 81 

Plum,  wild 37 

Poplar 117 

Carolina H*^ 

yellow 23,39 

Poiniius  grandidenta IH 

heterophylla ll*^ 

monilifera 118 

Prickly  ash 19 

Prunus  americana 37 

angustifolia 27 

caroliniana 26 

pennsylvanica 58 

serotina 59 

Pyrus  americana 20 

angustifolia 37 

coronaria 27 

Quercus  alba 89 

aquatica 105 

brevifolia l07 

catesbsei 103 

cinerea 107 

coccinea 99 

cuneata 103 

digitata 103 

heterophylla 25 

imbricaria 107 

laurifolia 106 

leana M 

lyrata 93 

marilandica 104 

michauxii 95 

minor 91 

nigra 101, 105 


PAGE. 

Querelas  phellos 108 

priiius 93 

rubra 97 

texana 98 

tiiictoria 101 

velutina 101 

virens 9(; 

virgiuiana 96 

Rainfall : 141,143 

Kedbav 36,74 

Kedbud 33,57 

Red  cedar 19, 131 

Red  gum 61 

Rhododendron 68 

Khododendron  maximum liS 

Robinia  pseudacacia 54 

viscosa 55 

Sabal  palmetto 136 

Salix  nigra 116 

Sandstone  belt,  forests  of r.il 

Sassafras 36,  75 

Sassafras  sassafras 75 

Service  tree 37,  60 

Shad  bush 60 

Short-leaf  pine 18,  IHO 

Silverbell  tree 70 

Snowdrop  tree 28,  70 

Sorrelltree 66 

Sourwood 66 

Spruce,  black 18, 133 

Spruce  pine 128, 130, 134, 135 

Soils,  see  forest. 

Sugar  tree 50 

Swamps,  see  white  cedar,  gum  and  cy- 
press, and  oak  flats. 

of  coastal  plain 169 

of  Piedmont  plateau 1S3 

Sweet  bay 26, 145, 148 

smooth 26, 145, 146,  148 

Sweet  gum 23,  61 

Sweet  birch 28 

Sycamore 23,  81 

Taxodlum  distichum 123 

distichum  iinbricaria 19 

Temperature,  annual,  of  forest  regions 
141, 143 

Thorns  (haw) 27 

I  huja  occidentalis 119 

Tilia  americana 43 

heterophylea 45 

pubescens 44 

Transitional  forests 168 

Tsuga  caroliniana 135 

canadensis 134 

Tulip-tree 23,39 

Tupelo  gum 36,  65 

Ulmus  alata 77 

americana 76 

fulva 78 

Umbrella  tree 24,  37 

Viburnum 22 

Virgilia 56 

Wahoo 38,  77 

Walnut,  black 21,  83 

white 21,82 

Water  beech 113 

White  pine 18, 123 

forests 215 

treatment  of 218 

Whitewood 39 

Wicky 67 

Willow 116 

black 37, 116 

glaucous 28 

river 116 

Ward 28 

Yellow  poplar 23 


BULLETINS  OF  THE  NOETH  CAEOLINA  GEOLOGICAL 
SUEYEY. 


I.  Iron  Ores  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze,  1893.  8°,  239 
pp.,  20  pi.,  and  map Postage  10  cents. 

2.  Building  Stone  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  A.  Holmes  and 
J.  Volney  Lewis In  preparation. 

3.  Gold  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze  and  Geo. 

B.  Hanna,  1896.     8°,  196  pp.,  14  pi.,  and  map Postage  8  cents. 

4.  Road  Material  and  Road  Construction  in  North  Carolina,  by  J. 
A.  Holmes  and  William  Cain,  1893.    8°,  88  pp... Out  of  print. 

5.  The  Forests,  Forest  Lands,  and  Forest  Products  of  Eastern  North 
Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1894.     8°,  128  pp.,  5  pi Postage  5  cents. 

6.  The  Timber  Trees  of  North  Carolina,  by  Gifford  Pinchot  and 
W.  W.  Ashe,   1897.     8°,  227  pp.,  22  pi Postage  10  cents. 

7.  Forest  Fires  ;  Their  Destructive  Work,  Causes  and  Prevention,  by 
W.  W.  Ashe,  1895.    8°,  66  pp.,  1  pi Postage  4  cents. 

8.  Water  Powers  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  F.  Swain  and 
Joseph  A.  Holmes In  press. 

9.  Monazite  and  Monazite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B. 

C.  Nitze,  1895.    8°,  47  pp.,  5  pi Postage  4  cents. 

10.  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina  and  Other  Appalachian  States,  by 
Henry  B.  C.  Nitze  and  A.  J.  Wilkins In  preparation. 

II.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  of  Western  North 
Carolina,  by  J.  Volney  Lewis,  1895.     8°,  107  pp.,  6pl...Postage  4  cents. 

12.  Drinking  Y/ater  Supplies  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  A. 
Holmes In  preparation. 

13.  Clay  Deposits  and  Clay  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph 
A.  Holmes  and  Heinrich  Reis In  press. 

14.  Mica  Deposits  and  Mica  Mining  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  A. 
Holmes In  preparation. 

15.  Mineral  Waters  of  North  Carolina,  by  F.  P.  Tena- 
ble  In  preparation. 

16.  A  List  of  Elevations  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  A. 
Holmes In  preparation. 

17.  Historical  Sketch  of  North  Ca.rolina  Scientific  and  Economic  Sur- 
veys ;  and  Bibliography  of  North  Carolina  Geology  and  Mineralogy,  by 
Joseph  A.  Holmes In  preparation. 

18.  Road  Improvement  in  North  Caroiina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes  and  Wm. 
Cain In  press. 

These  publications  are  mailed  to  libraries,  and  to  individuals  who  may 
desire  information  on  any  of  the  special  subjects  named,  free  of  charge, 
except  that  in  each  case  applicants  for  the  reports  should  forward  the 
amount  of  postage  needed,  as  indicated  above,  for  mailing  the  bulletins 
desired,  to  the   State  Geologist,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 


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